Effect of Labour-Out Migration on Farm Input use in Banana and Legume Systems in Great Lakes Region of Central Africa

Migration has a potential to increase rural development as has been shown by several studies around the world but empirical work is limited in Central Africa. Therefore, using the New Economics of Labour Migration (NELM) and Lewis- Fei- Ranis theory as analytical frameworks, this study tests whether migration affect investment in fertilizer, high yielding varieties and hired labour in Rwanda and DRC. Migration has negative effect on input use which confirms and conflicts other findings in smallholder agriculture around the World. However, migration bears a positive effect on hired farm labour use. The mixed effects clearly show that the relationship between migration and crop production is not homogenous and varies with production conditions, dominant crop enterprises, social and beliefs and norms. The negative effect of migration on input use clearly supports the NELM and Lewis- Fei- Ranis theory arguments. This requires attention of policymakers in Central Africa because migration only helps to ease farm households’ liquidity and capital constraints in the short run with limited contribution to agricultural intensification. The possible policy could be to create enabling environment for both migrants and family left behind to invest in agriculture and subsidize the remittances sent for agricultural production activities.