Migrants and Income: Implications for the Environment in Rural Ghana

This study has considered migration from rural areas of Upper East Region to rural areas of Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. In assessing the impact in the region of destination, short-term effects have been distinguished from long-term effects. The former is initial felling of trees and more intensive land use, and application of techniques so that the migrant households could earn from on-farm work. In the longer term, migrants are expected to follow the examples set by the indigenous population and adjust their techniques. Land acquisition is crucial to destination rural migrant farm households. A model on tenancy contracts has been formulated and empirical results show the importance of liquidity constraints in the acreage decisions of migrant households. Moreover, the farm households could generate income from other non-farm activities necessary for reducing liquidity constraints and assisting in financing farm activities and also benefit the origin households of the outmigrants through remittances. The study thus extends the debates on demographic changes, migration and its environmental implications at the migrant place of destination.