Labour Out Migration from Rice Based Cropping System: A Case of Bihar, India

18 Pages Posted: 29 Sep 2014

See all articles by Abhay Kumar

Abhay Kumar

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

R. Singh

Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

Krishna M. Singh

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

Anjani Kumar

NCAP-ICAR

Date Written: September 27, 2014

Abstract

Migration has been a recurrent phenomenon since the dawn of human history. Though its form has changed but it remains a dominant event in the global social system. In modern days also people migrate from underdeveloped areas to the developed ones in search of better opportunities. A number of social, cultural, economic, spatial, climatic, demographic factors induce migration, however, the economic factors are considered as the primary reasons for inducing migration. Migration of male labor force from Bihar has increased during last two decades. It was observed that the youngsters are more prone to migration and most of them are migrating to urban centers for non-farm work. Migration helped more rational use of two critical inputs, labour and irrigation in rice production on migrant households.

The migration seems to have helped in judicious use of human labor at native place due to migration of surplus labor force for gainful employment to destination of migration. Remittances have been utilized for meeting consumption needs, improved livelihood, better education to children and better health care facilities. Migrant households also preferred to save money to meet their requirements in unforeseen situations. It can thus be inferred that migration may be one of risk-coping strategies for the weaker sections of the society and has inculcated the saving habits among migrant households. The allocation of remittances on agricultural inputs could have increased if proper infrastructure facilities were present in rural areas for faster dissemination of modern agricultural technology for increasing agricultural production. Analysis of determinants of migration revealed that a male member of lower caste with larger size of land and larger number of dependents is more prone to migration in Bihar. The caste barrier for migration has weakened but still persists; however, size of farm is no more taboo for migration.

Keywords: Migration, Rice production, Labor migration, Remittances, Bihar

JEL Classification: O13, O15, O18, O32, Q12, R23

Suggested Citation

Kumar, Abhay and Singh, R. and Singh, Krishna M. and Kumar, Anjani, Labour Out Migration from Rice Based Cropping System: A Case of Bihar, India (September 27, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2502472 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2502472

Abhay Kumar

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) ( email )

Krishi Bhavan
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road
Bangalore
India

R. Singh

Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University ( email )

Samastipur, Pusa
Samastipur
Bihar, Bihar 848125
India

Krishna M. Singh (Contact Author)

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University ( email )

Pusa
Samastipur
Pusa-Samastipur, Bihar, Bihar 848125
India
+91-9431060157 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.rpcau.ac.in/

Anjani Kumar

NCAP-ICAR ( email )

NCAP, DPS Marg
Pusa
New Delhi, 110012
India

HOME PAGE: http://www.ncap.res.in

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