International labour migration, farmland fallowing, livelihood diversification and technology adoption in Nepal

This article investigates the effect of temporary international labour migration on farmland fallowing, adoption of agricultural intensification technologies and livelihood diversification. Using nationally representative data, combined with empirical methods that allow causal inference, the authors find that households with international migrants are over 50 per cent more likely (based on propensity score matching estimates) to have fallow land than those without. Temporary international migration promotes the adoption of some agricultural intensification technologies and causes rural households to diversify their livelihoods. Land fallowing may increase food insecurity, while agricultural intensification may improve it, for an uncertain net effect.

Automated summary

This article investigates the impact of temporary international labor migration on farmland fallowing, adoption of agricultural intensification technologies, and livelihood diversification. The study finds that households with international migrants are more likely to engage in fallow land and also experience increased adoption of agricultural intensification technologies. Additionally, temporary international migration encourages rural households to diversify their livelihoods.