Migration as adaptation strategy to cope with climate change

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the link between climate/weather change and farmer migration in Bihar, India. The influence of cognitive conditions and climate-related stress on farmer migration decisions and the socioeconomic characteristics of migrating and non-migrating farm households are analysed. The focus is the role of migration in access to climate and agricultural extension services and the contribution of migration to enhanced farmer coping capacity. Design/methodology/approach A primary survey was conducted of farm households in seven districts of Bihar, India. Farmer perceptions of climate change were analysed using the mental map technique. The role of socioeconomic characteristics in farm household migration was evaluated using binary logistic regression, and the influence of migration on access to climate and agricultural extension services and the adaptive capacity of migrating households was investigated using descriptive statistics. Findings Climate-induced livelihood risk factors are one of the major drivers of farmer’s migration. The farmers’ perception on climate change influences migration along with the socioeconomic characteristics. There is a significant difference between migrating and non-migrating farm households in the utilization of instructions, knowledge and technology based climate and agriculture extension services. Benefits from receipt of remittance, knowledge and social networks from the host region enhances migrating households’ adaptive capacity. Originality/value This study provides micro-evidence of the contribution of migration to farmer adaptive capacity and access to climate and agricultural extension services, which will benefit analyses of climate-induced migration in other developing countries with higher agricultural dependence. In addition, valuable insights are delivered on policy requirements to reduce farmer vulnerability to climate change.

Climate change effects on the hydrology of the headwaters of the Tagus River: implications for the management of the Tagus–Segura transfer

“…Moreover, there are scarce examples in the specialized literature of the analysis of the effects of CC within a framework of integrated water resource management (Onagi, 2016). In ad-dition, for an adequate comprehensive study of the effects of CC in an IBWT, and to produce operational indicators for water management plans (Giupponi and Gain, 2017), including the management of water trade (Kahil et al, 2015), it is also necessary to consider the effects in the receiving basin.…”

Migration among Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria: Is it a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy?

“…Swanson (2006) describes agricultural extension services as the all-encompassing institutional arrangements that are meant to aid farmers organize themselves and create linkages between farmers and markets. Transfer of resources acquired to home location or zone, such as remittances, return of migrant and knowledge make immense contributions to enhance level of awareness of the work of institution and technical sources of agricultural extension services and climate information services (Jha et al, 2018). Income remitted home has direct effect on the resource base, economic welfare and resilience of the migrant source community (Adger, et al 2002).…”

“…In concept, the new economics of labour migration (NELM) models are different from other models because they incorporate rural risk factor as a determinant of decisions to migrate (Jha et al, 2018). This approach implies that decision to migrate an affairs of families and households instead of that of the lone individual (Jha et al, 2018); Stark and Lucas, 1988;Stark and Bloom, 1985). The NELM model likewise considers migration as a strategy created by a family or household to maximize expected incomes and reduce risk of failure in consumption by engaging in diversi ed sources of income by crossing sectors or agricultural zones.…”

Socio-Economic Impacts of Cyclone Aila on Migrant and Non-Migrant Households in the Southwestern Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

“…The analysis also showed that age of the migrant and educational attainment was significantly positively correlated with migration; they were more likely to migrate. The capability to acquire knowledge about adaptation strategies, awareness, and opportunity for alternative sources of income, fearless of taking challenges influenced them to take the decision to migrate [15]. Moreover, more economically active household members were 2.5 times more likely to be influenced to migrate.…”

“…In fact, a severe cyclone hits Bangladesh every three years on average [10][11][12]. Moreover, the coastal areas and the Bay of Bengal are located at the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, and are frequently hit by cyclonic storms, generating high tidal surges, floods, and storm surges, which lead to permanent or temporary human displacement [6,[13][14][15][16][17]. It is forecasted that, by 2050, about 17% of coastal areas will be inundated [16].…”