WITHDRAWN: Rural-urban Labor Migration, Remittances and its Effect on Agricultural Production in Migrant Sending Households: Evidence from Rural areas of East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia.

Abstract

In this study the effect of the rural-urban labor migration and remittances on agricultural production in rural areas of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia is examined. A total of 480 households are used as the sample size for the study by using multi-stage sampling technique. The descriptive statistics shows that migrant sending households suffer labor shortage in peak seasons but they are benefited from rural-urban migrants since the income they receive from migrants enables them to pay back their loan and purchase agricultural inputs. The econometrics analysis shows that rural-urban migration has insignificant effect on agricultural production. But remittances have positive and significant effect on agricultural production. Apart from this, cultivated land, livestock ownership, and extension services have positive and significant effect on agricultural production. On the other hand, the use of agricultural pesticide has negative and significant effect on agricultural production. Finally, Training should be given for rural people on the best use of remittances and inculcating the culture of saving and investment for sustained rural economic development. In addition, agricultural extension service delivery should be boosted through timely recruitment, periodic training of agents and provision of adequate logistics.