Understanding rural outmigration and agricultural land use change in the Gandaki Basin, Nepal

Vishwas Sudhir Chitale,Abid Hussain,Giovanna Gioli,Ishaan Kochhar,Amina Maharjan

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2020.102278

Abstract

This study investigates agricultural land use change in Chitwan, Nuwakot and Lamjung districts of Nepal during 1990 –2017 in relation to rural outmigration. Agriculture in Nepal is characterized by subsistence farming, low productivity, limited access to markets, constraints of terrain, poor economic returns, and vulnerability to natural hazards now exacerbated by climate change. These challenging circumstances are further compounded by several physical, environmental and socioeconomic challenges, including from labour outmigration. Outmigration has steadily increased over the past two decades, and a remittance economy has fuelled urbanization processes as well as transformations in the rural economy. Data was collected from three selected districts, representing two different agro-ecological zones - the mountains and plains (Terai). We use an interdisciplinary approach integrating macro scale and longitudinal geospatial analysis with quantitative econometric causal analysis and participatory qualitative methods. Results show that agricultural land abandonment is higher in mountain areas than in the Terai. The effect of outmigration on agricultural land abandonment also has an important gender dimension: internal outmigration of women has a significant positive effect on agricultural land abandonment. This shows that when men outmigrate, women continue farming leading to feminization of agriculture, but when women migrate in significant numbers, there are only older parents left who are often unable to continue farming. Similarly, and contrary to the general narrative and previous studies, international migration (of both men and women) did not show any significant impact on agricultural land abandonment.

Highlights

Previous studies on agricultural land use change and its determining factors in Nepal either used a macro approach based on district level or national level data (Paudel et al, 2016) or a micro approach based on household surveys (Jaquet et al, 2015; Khanal & Watanabe, 2006)
The two major reasons were the relocation of Padampur village from inside the Chitwan National Park (Protected Area) to Jutpani village development committee (VDC) during 1995–2004 (Dhakal et al, 2011); and the resettlement of flood-displaced people, after the devastating Lothar and Rapti floods of 1993 (Singh, 2013)
The major reasons cited for agricultural land contraction in Nuwakot and Lamjung pointed at educated people giving up subsistence agriculture, and erratic precipitation hampering rainfed agriculture

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural land abandonment has become a global phenomenon as a consequence of changing priorities in economic development, a widening gap between agricultural and non-agricultural incomes, climate change vulnerabilities, and a gradual decrease in the rural workforce engaged in agricultural production (Hussain et al, 2016; Liu et al, 2014; MacDonald et al, 2000; Okahashi, 1996; Pointereau et al, 2008; Prishchepov et al, 2013; Queiroz et al, 2014; Rigg et al, 2017; Riggs, 2006; Shirai et al, 2017; Shui et al, 2019). In most parts of the country, with the exception of parts of the southern Gangetic plains (Terai) - agriculture is characterized by low productiv ity, subsistence farming, limited access to markets, high climate vulnerability, constraints of terrain, and high costs of food production and transportation (Hussain et al, 2016). Low agricultural productivity coupled with small landholdings means that farming alone is an insuf ficient source of livelihood for rural households (Paudel et al, 2014), to meet the increased costs of health, education, and other services. The percentage of remittance-receiving households has increased from 23% in 1995–96 to 56% in 2010–11 (CBS, 2011)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion