Reducing Agricultural Labour Costs through Indigenous Institution in Igboland before 1970s: A Historical Analysis

Authors: Opara Uche A. PhD; Chukwuleta Chinenyenwa O. PhD; Oparaugo Emmanuel O.

Affiliation: Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State

Corresponding Author: [email protected]

July 10, 2026

SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities

Zenodo DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21301498

Crossref DOI: 10.66694/siar.gjah20262002

Reducing Agricultural Labour Costs through Indigenous Institution in Igboland before 1970s: A Historical Analysis
Review Article Arts & Humanities

Abstract

This study examines the role of indigenous institutional arrangements in reducing agricultural labour costs in Igboland, Southeastern Nigeria, before the 1970s. It argues that agricultural production was sustained through socially regulated institutions rather than wage labour. Key institutions, including age-grade organisations, lineage-based cooperation, Onwe-Oru (collective labour groups), and Igba Odiho (apprenticeship-based service), mobilised labour, minimised production costs, and strengthened reciprocity and social cohesion. Using a qualitative historical approach, the study draws on archival records, oral histories, and existing ethnographic and historical literature to reconstruct indigenous labour systems and farming practices. The findings reveal that these institutions significantly reduced labour and transaction costs, enhanced productivity, and addressed seasonal labour shortages. However, their effectiveness gradually declined during the late colonial period due to monetisation, rural-urban migration, and the expansion of capitalist labour relations. The study concludes that indigenous institutions were efficient mechanisms for agricultural labour management and suggests that adapting aspects of these communal systems could inform sustainable, inclusive, and cost-effective agricultural policies in contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Keywords

Indigenous institutions, agricultural labour cost, Igboland, agrarian history, informal institutions.

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How to Cite

Opara Uche A. PhD; Chukwuleta Chinenyenwa O. PhD; Oparaugo Emmanuel O. (2026). Reducing Agricultural Labour Costs through Indigenous Institution in Igboland before 1970s: A Historical Analysis. SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities, Vol. 2, No. 2. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21301498

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Article Information

  • Type: Review Article
  • Journal: SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities
  • Subject Area: Arts & Humanities
  • Published: July 10, 2026
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 2
  • Word Count: Not specified
  • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21301498
  • Processing Fee: $35.00 USD

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