Land Degradation and Migration in a Dry Land Region in India

Migration literature has always considered environmental constraints as one of the prime movers of populations, especially from dry regions, where water rather than land is the primary limiting factor. In this study, we seek to analyze the impact of degradation of private land, as well as common pool land resources, on migration decisions. We focus on three dryland districts in Gujarat and analyze data from a survey of over one thousand households. Our study finds that economic assets and natural capital have differential impacts on short-term and long-term migration decisions. The rich tend to partake in long-term, precautionary migration. Their assets, skills and social capital allow them to migrate out perhaps permanently. The poorest rural households in dry land regions, on the other hand, are the least likely to migrate. Thus, any employment creation in rural dryland regions is most likely to help the poorest. Further, we find that degradation of common-pool land resources influences short-term but not long-term migration. Better management of common-pool resources would strengthen the livelihood base of traditional herder communities and limit migration among middle-income households. Overall, in dry areas such as Gujarat, access to irrigation, rather than land ownership is likely to deter migration.