Gender analysis of factors influencing livelihood choice among migrants in cocoa-producing communities of Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analysed gender specific factors influencing livelihood choice among migrants in cocoa-producing communities of Ondo State Nigeria to enhance inclusiveness and gender equity in rural economy. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select 220 respondents across the study area. Structured interview schedule was used to elicit information. Data were summarised with percentages, mean and standard deviation, while factor analysis was used to categorise and isolate the gender specific factors influencing migrants’ livelihood choice. Results revealed that 51.4 percent of the migrants were male and 48.6 percent were female with mean ages of 44.6 ± 13.3 and 42.0 ± 13.3 years, respectively. The mean annual income for male and female were 459,769.91 ± 409,365.69 Naira and 247,607.48 ± 207,169.69 Naira, respectively. On-farm livelihood category was the most popular choice of both male (100.0%) and female (93.5%) while more female (50.5 and 38.3%) than male (38.1 and 28.6%) engaged in off-farm and non-farm categories respectively. For the male, five crucial factors (socio-economic status, labour resource, financial accessibility, external orientation and farm holding) were isolated with a total explained variation of 74.4 percent, whereas financial resource, labour resource, socio-economic and group benefit factors were among the six factors (with explained variation of 72.1%) found to influence livelihood choice of female migrants. These findings revealed gender-based differentiation in the factor influencing the choices of male and female migrants. These factors were major determinants of livelihood choice of migrants. Therefore, focusing on gender-specific factors influencing the livelihood choice of migrants is crucial to any planned intervention to enhance cocoa production in the study area.