Migration as a Livelihood Diversification Strategy of Poor Rural Household in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Migration is largely seen as key component of livelihood diversification strategies to overcome poverty in difficult situations in developing nations. The paper examines migration as a livelihood strategy adopted by the rural households to overcome poverty in Edo State. Majority of the rural households in Edo State use migration as a way to mitigate against risk and unforeseen circumstances. In order for livelihood diversification, households take the decision to send members of their families to urbanised cities, where they could gainfully be employed and start sending remittance back home as way of diversifying the family income sources. These remittances therefore, form substantial part of the household's incomes. The paper therefore, shows that remittance incomes from migrants positively contribute to improving the living standard of the households. They also provide a foundation for sustainable income security in the families of the migrants, and assist in empowering, the household to overcome poverty.