THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL FARM LABOUR MIGRATION IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

International farm labour migration is an international phenomenon. Since the 1990s, International Farm Labour Migrants (IFLM) have been coming to Nigeria’s agricultural sector from neighbouring West Africa countries. Ibadan is one of the major recipients of IFLM. Literature has focused on the economic factors informing IFLM with little attention given to the social context. Thus, this study was designed to examine the push and pull factors of IFLM, migrants’ forms of relationships and adaptation, and development opportunities migrants created in their countries. Migration System Theory was used, while the exploratory design was adopted. Predominance of IFLM informed the purposive selection of the three host communities-Atan, Olosun and Ijaiye farm settlements in Ibadan. Nine key informant interviews were conducted with three community heads (one per host community) and six local farmland owners (two per community). Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with IFLM: nine migrant farm tenants (three per community), nine migrant farm labourers (three per community). One migrant farm tenant and one migrant farm labourer were used as case studies. One focus group discussion (FGD) session (of 6-12 participants) was held per community: two FGDs with male IFLM (in Atan and Ijaiye farm settlement) and one FGD with female migrants (in Olosun) in order to tease out the broad/unique migration context of migrants. Data were content-analysed. The IFLMs’ push-factors included limited access to agricultural land, unprofitable production, unprofitable market realities, and limited opportunities in non-farm sectors. The pull factors were availability of fertile land, bounteous and sustained farm production, income, profitable markets, and favourable remittance structures. Migration to Ibadan was facilitated by transnational networks of farm labour recruitment agents who were privileged migrant farmers, independent migrant farm labourers and return migrants. Relationships between migrants and indigenes were formed through the payment of rents in cash, labour or/and agreed farm produce remittances to local farmland owners in exchange for farmland access. Migrants were also recruited as labourers by both privileged IFLM and local farmers through labour contracts in exchange for rewards of either wages or assets. Local farmers depended on IFLM to sustain profitable production. Migrant labourers were socially compelled to respect community norms and values in order to avoid fine or/and expulsion. Immigration permits, local language proficiency and community participation of IFLM through labour and payment of local charges and taxes enhanced their adaptation. The IFLM invested profits and incomes in sponsoring relatives’ education and investments, acquisition of personal assets and establishment of businesses in their countries. These benefited their families and communities, and served as their re-adaptation capital. Conducive social conditions in Ibadan attracted international farm labour migrants from across West Africa countries. Since local farm production depends on migrant farmers for profitability, federal, state and local governments’ should devise strategies to enhance mutual relationships that are beneficial to both migrants and local farmers in order to improve the State economy.