Dynamics of Out-Migration of Agricultural Labourers: A Micro-Level Study in Two Districts of West Bengal

The paper has studied the phenomenon of out-migration of agricultural labourers which has caused a decline in the supply of labourers to the agriculture sector, particularly during the major farm operations. This has led to an increase in the wages of agricultural labourers, which has escalated the cost of cultivation. Introduction of MGNREGA has not been successful in reducing rural out-migration from the study area. The study has also made some suggestions to improve the standard of living of migrant agricultural labourers. These include: (i) creation of employment opportunities at the local level, (ii) strengthening of non-farm sector in the study area, (iii) expansion of irrigation facilities and area under high-yielding varieties, (iv) adoption of selective mechanization and crop diversification to meet the supply-demand gap of agricultural labourers.