Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal

This paper analyses the relationship between cyclical labour migration and agrarian transition in the uplands of Nepal, Ethiopia and Kenya. It shows that while migration decision-making is linked to expanding capitalist markets, it is mediated by local cultural, political and ecological changes. In...

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Main Authors: Sugden, Fraser, Nigussie, Likimyelesh, Debevec, Liza, Nijbroek, R.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114148
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author Sugden, Fraser
Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Debevec, Liza
Nijbroek, R.
author_browse Debevec, Liza
Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Nijbroek, R.
Sugden, Fraser
author_facet Sugden, Fraser
Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Debevec, Liza
Nijbroek, R.
author_sort Sugden, Fraser
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper analyses the relationship between cyclical labour migration and agrarian transition in the uplands of Nepal, Ethiopia and Kenya. It shows that while migration decision-making is linked to expanding capitalist markets, it is mediated by local cultural, political and ecological changes. In turn, cyclical migration goes on to shape the trajectory of change within agriculture. The dual dependence on both migrant income and agriculture within these upland communities often translates into an intensifying work burden on the land, and rising profits for capitalism. However, on some occasions this income can support increased productivity and accumulation within agriculture – although this depends on both the agro-ecological context and the local agrarian structure.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace114148
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher Informa UK Limited
publisherStr Informa UK Limited
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1141482024-06-26T11:43:30Z Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal Sugden, Fraser Nigussie, Likimyelesh Debevec, Liza Nijbroek, R. migration agrarian structure labour mobility remittances income remuneration capitalism peasantry agriculture investment farmers landlessness tenants livelihoods women decision making highlands communities This paper analyses the relationship between cyclical labour migration and agrarian transition in the uplands of Nepal, Ethiopia and Kenya. It shows that while migration decision-making is linked to expanding capitalist markets, it is mediated by local cultural, political and ecological changes. In turn, cyclical migration goes on to shape the trajectory of change within agriculture. The dual dependence on both migrant income and agriculture within these upland communities often translates into an intensifying work burden on the land, and rising profits for capitalism. However, on some occasions this income can support increased productivity and accumulation within agriculture – although this depends on both the agro-ecological context and the local agrarian structure. 2022-07-29 2021-06-30T15:05:23Z 2021-06-30T15:05:23Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114148 en Open Access Informa UK Limited Sugden, Fraser; Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Debevec, Liza; Nijbroek, R. 2022. Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal. Journal of Peasant Studies, 49(5):1101-1131. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2021.1894552]
spellingShingle migration
agrarian structure
labour mobility
remittances
income
remuneration
capitalism
peasantry
agriculture
investment
farmers
landlessness
tenants
livelihoods
women
decision making
highlands
communities
Sugden, Fraser
Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Debevec, Liza
Nijbroek, R.
Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal
title Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal
title_full Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal
title_fullStr Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal
title_short Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal
title_sort migration environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions learning from ethiopia kenya and nepal
topic migration
agrarian structure
labour mobility
remittances
income
remuneration
capitalism
peasantry
agriculture
investment
farmers
landlessness
tenants
livelihoods
women
decision making
highlands
communities
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114148
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