Regional Conference on Male Outmigration and the feminization of agriculture in South Asia

According to the FAO, there are an estimated 214 million international and 740 million internal labour migrants worldwide Asia is at the forefront of this transformation: Urbanization and industrial development are increasing the capacity for its cities to absorb the vast surplus labour of the countryside.

Why is this happening now? In part economic liberalization and rising costs of living in rural areas combined with climate stress and other ecological pressures, are making agricultural based livelihoods increasingly less viable. Added to this are the cultural changes wrought by globalization which is both increasing the demand for cash, and changing the aspirations of young people.

For more information: iwmi4.wpengine.com/News_Room/pdf/concept_note_regional_conference_outward_migration.pdf