Local diversification of income sources versus migration: Complements or Substitutes? Evidence from rural families of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin

Much has been written to show the importance of diversification for rural African households because of the considerable share of non-farm revenues in total income (Reardon, 1997; Reardon et al., 1998). The literature points out push and pull factors explaining that risk and adverse shocks which characterize farm activities urge rural population to diversify into more profitable non-farm activities. But less attention has been paid to the distinction between two diversification patterns, namely local diversification and migration, and their relationship. Drawing on the theoretical and empirical literature, we identify the advantages and drawbacks of local diversification versus migration decision in terms of expected pay-offs for the family and the individual. Based on original data from a sample of rural families in two villages of the Senegal Groundnut Basin, the present paper examines whether local diversification and migration are complements or substitutes, by investigating the choice of the number of migrants in the family. We consider the family as a basis of reciprocal relations and point out that its role of insurance may differ when the member migrates. Our analysis indicates that when agricultural endowments are low and variable in the whole, migration is found to be functioning rather as an alternative activity to local diversification, than as a complement. Such a finding implies that with relative low returns expected from local economy, migration provides rural households with a form ofmigration, diversification, mutual insurance, Groundnut basin, Senegal, Consumer/Household Economics, O15, O55, D70, Q12,

Cereal supplies in rural families of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin. Who is responsible for meeting family food needs ?

In the traditional operation of production-consumption groups in rural areas of Senegal, the group chief, or Borom njël, has a social duty to make sure family food needs are met. His ability to do this is supported by certain social rules governing these groups, and by a favourable environment. However, various changes have now adversely affected the environment. These changes prompted us to assess the Borom njel's current ability to go on playing his social rule as a food provider. From data collected in two villages of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin, using multivariate analysis, we identified three production-consumption group profiles according to how the Borom njel ensured main cereal supplies: (i) market purchase with migrants' remittances; (ii) home production and (iii) market purchase with own resources. The ability of the Borom njël to ensure cereal supplies differed according to the profile. We used a multivariate logit model to study the determinants affecting the Borom njel's ability to ensure cereal supplies for the production-consumption group. We found that physical assets and wage labour employment increased this ability. We also found that agricultural income, including livestock, was positively correlated to the likelihood of the Borom njël successfully ensuring cereal supplies, particularly those depending heavily on own production. Additional income earned by the Borom njel from non-agricultural activity had the same positive effect, particularly when ensuring cereals provision through market purchase. We end with some thoughts on the increasing reliance of Borom njels on migrants remittances to ensure that family cereal needs are met.Senegal, Groundnut Basin, Cereal supplies, consumption-production groups, multinomial logit, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Local diversification of income sources versus migration: Complements or Substitutes? Evidence from rural families of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin

Much has been written to show the importance of diversification for rural African households because of the considerable share of non-farm revenues in total income (Reardon, 1997; Reardon et al., 1998). The literature points out push and pull factors explaining that risk and adverse shocks which characterize farm activities urge rural population to diversify into more profitable non-farm activities. But less attention has been paid to the distinction between two diversification patterns, namely local diversification and migration, and their relationship. Drawing on the theoretical and empirical literature, we identify the advantages and drawbacks of local diversification versus migration decision in terms of expected pay-offs for the family and the individual. Based on original data from a sample of rural families in two villages of the Senegal Groundnut Basin, the present paper examines whether local diversification and migration are complements or substitutes, by investigating the choice of the number of migrants in the family. We consider the family as a basis of reciprocal relations and point out that its role of insurance may differ when the member migrates. Our analysis indicates that when agricultural endowments are low and variable in the whole, migration is found to be functioning rather as an alternative activity to local diversification, than as a complement. Such a finding implies that with relative low returns expected from local economy, migration provides rural households with a form o

Quelle place pour la production agricole dans un contexte de migration et diversification des activités ? Dynamique du Bassin arachidier du Sénégal.

La part principale du revenu de nombreux pays de l’Afrique subsaharienne est d’origine agricole. Pourtant le poids des activités non agricoles augmente, y compris en zones rurales. Le cas du Sénégal montre une orientation forte vers ces sources de revenus hors agriculture, emplois non agricoles locaux et migrations. Du point de vue national, cette évolution influence la capacité du pays à nourrir, de manière autonome, sa population. Nous avons collecté des données en 2006 et 2007 sur le comportement des familles présentes sur les exploitations agricoles du Bassin arachidier. Cette région traditionnellement agricole subit de fortes pressions agro-écologiques et de débouché de sa production. L’analyse montre que la migration nationale ou internationale de jeunes gens suit une logique familiale et est développée dans la zone à moindre potentiel agricole. La place d’activités individuelles non agricoles, complémentaires et nourrissant la production agricole locale, est plus importante dans la zone à plus fort potentiel agricole. L’accumulation du capital tiré des revenus individuels ne semble donc pas être une stratégie de préparation de la migration, par nature coûteuse et entraînant un désengagement hors de l’agriculture

Cereal supplies in rural families of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin. Who is responsible for meeting family food needs ?

In the traditional operation of production-consumption groups in rural areas of Senegal, the group chief, or Borom njël, has a social duty to make sure family food needs are met. His ability to do this is supported by certain social rules governing these groups, and by a favourable environment. However, various changes have now adversely affected the environment. These changes prompted us to assess the Borom njel's current ability to go on playing his social rule as a food provider. From data collected in two villages of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin, using multivariate analysis, we identified three production-consumption group profiles according to how the Borom njel ensured main cereal supplies: (i) market purchase with migrants' remittances; (ii) home production and (iii) market purchase with own resources. The ability of the Borom njël to ensure cereal supplies differed according to the profile. We used a multivariate logit model to study the determinants affecting the Borom njel's ability to ensure cereal supplies for the production-consumption group. We found that physical assets and wage labour employment increased this ability. We also found that agricultural income, including livestock, was positively correlated to the likelihood of the Borom njël successfully ensuring cereal supplies, particularly those depending heavily on own production. Additional income earned by the Borom njel from non-agricultural activity had the same positive effect, particularly when ensuring cereals provision through market purchase. We end with some thoughts on the increasing reliance of Borom njels on migrants remittances to ensure that family cereal needs are met