Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1101-1131 |
| Number of pages | 31 |
| Journal | The Journal of Peasant Studies |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 23 Jun 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors are extremely grateful for the support and hospitality provided by the community in the study communities in Bhojpur, Nepal, the Upper Tana basin in Kenya, and in Maichew and Raya Azebo in Ethiopia. Invaluable field support was provided by Tesfu Arbha and Haimanot Woldegebriel in Ethiopia, Bimala Dhimal, Manita Raut and Sujeet Karn in Nepal, and Veronicah Thuo, Joyce Ndathy, Simon Njoroge and Nicholas Kuria in Kenya. The research was funded by the CGIAR programme for Water, Land and Ecosystems.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Migration
- Nepal
- agrarian transition
- capitalism
- peasantry
- remittance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Anthropology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)