Introduction:
In recent years, a significant number of farmers from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar have been leaving their agricultural fields to work as labourers in cities or industrial hubs. This trend is not new, but it has intensified due to a range of economic, structural, and socio-cultural factors. Interestingly, most of these farmers are not transitioning into skilled or professional jobs but are entering informal labour markets. This report investigates the reasons behind this migration pattern, emphasizing why they end up in unskilled labour rather than formal employment.
1. Agricultural Distress and Declining Profitability
- Low returns from farming: Most farmers in UP and Bihar operate on small or marginal landholdings (less than 2 hectares). Due to rising input costs (fertilizers, seeds, diesel), and stagnating Minimum Support Prices (MSP), profit margins have shrunk.
- Crop failures and climate risk: Unpredictable monsoons, floods in Bihar, and drought-like conditions in eastern UP have damaged crops. Farmers cannot rely on seasonal harvests for income security.
2. Fragmented Landholdings and Overdependence on Agriculture
- High population pressure: In Bihar and eastern UP, the average landholding has reduced significantly due to population growth and inheritance laws.
- No economies of scale: Small plots do not allow for mechanization or commercial farming, making agriculture labor-intensive and inefficient.
3. Lack of Industrial or Urban Development in Rural Regions
- Few local job options: UP and Bihar have low per capita industrial investment compared to states like Maharashtra or Gujarat.
- No rural employment guarantee beyond MGNREGA: Even government schemes like MGNREGA provide only up to 100 days of work and are irregular.
4. Migration Tradition and Established Labour Networks
- Historical migration pattern: Migrant work to Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat from UP and Bihar has been a tradition for decades. This has normalized labour migration.
- Chain migration: Existing networks in host cities make it easier for new migrants to find labour jobs quickly, even without qualifications.
5. Educational Gaps and Skill Mismatch
- Poor education quality: Government schools in rural areas of Bihar and UP often lack trained teachers, infrastructure, and digital access.
- No formal skills training: Very few rural youth receive vocational or professional training in trades like plumbing, electricals, or IT.
- Result: They are not eligible for or competitive in formal sector jobs.
6. Preference for Immediate Cash Earnings Over Long-Term Investment
- Survival needs: Many families need daily income to survive. Labour work provides quicker returns than investing time in education or skill-building.
- Debt pressure: Farmers burdened by crop loans or informal debt often migrate to pay back creditors.
7. Limited Awareness and Access to Government Schemes
- Low registration in PM-Kisan, PMEGP, or Skill India: Due to digital gaps and bureaucratic barriers, many rural families are not aware of or able to access benefits of central schemes.
8. Social Stigma and Cultural Factors
- Caste and class barriers: In many areas, there is a belief that professional jobs are not “meant for” certain castes or economic classes.
- Migration as identity: Among some communities, working as a migrant labourer has become normalized and even expected as a rite of passage.
Conclusion The migration of farmers from UP and Bihar into unskilled labour is a reflection of deep-rooted structural issues: land fragmentation, educational exclusion, rural joblessness, and weak agricultural economics. Without targeted interventions, this trend will continue, locking millions into informal low-wage cycles. Most importantly, the shift is not due to unwillingness but due to lack of opportunity, support, and systems to enable rural citizens to envision a better future.
Recommendations
- Expand rural vocational training and link it with job placement programs.
- Strengthen agri-based rural industries (like food processing) to generate local employment.
- Improve MGNREGA implementation and add new skill-linked components.
- Build migration support systems in host cities (e.g., helplines, housing, legal aid).
- Invest in digital literacy and access to government schemes at panchayat levels.
- Include landless labourers in farm policy and income support schemes.
Prepared by: Famalth Research Desk (23 April 2025)