Abstract:
The paper described the rural dynamics of Igbo migrant farmers found among Odolu/Igalamela people of Kogi State of Nigeria. Semi-structured interview schedule were used in collecting data from one hundred heads of migrant households. Percentages, wealth classification, mean scores and T-test were used to analyze the data obtained. The study revealed that majority of the responden ts were poor farmers who migrated more than 11 years ago because of economic reasons and poor soils at source area. Most of the migrant farmers had strong links with their places of origin and returned more than twelve times in a year for burial ceremonies of relations, traditional festivals, meetings and marriages. Although both migrant men and women were engaged in various agricultural activities, there were significant differences in each of the various activities engaged in on the basis of gender. The study further revealed that agricultural extension has not made much contribution to the lives and agricultural production of these migrant farmers. There is therefore the need to enact agricultural extension policy that will incorporate these groups of farmers into the general clients targeted by the public extension service in the country.
