IIT Madras study links irrigation, non-farm work to decline in drought-driven migration

chennai: access to non-farm business opportunities and irrigation facilities significantly reduces migration among rural farm households during drought, a recent study by indian institute of technology madras has found.the study, led by dr. sabuj kumar mandal and dr. gauri sreekumar of iit madras, analysed data from the india human development survey (rounds i and ii: 2004-05 and 2011-12) and employed the difference-in-differences (did) method to estimate the impact of drought on rural migration.the researchers observed no significant drought-induced migration among households with access to irrigation or those engaged in non-farm business activities, underscoring the potential of these factors as buffers against climate-related migration.the findings were published in the indian economic review. highlighting policy implications, the study recommended that the government enhance the rural non-farm sector through schemes like the aajeevika grameen express yojana and mgnrega. simultaneously, irrigation coverage could be expanded via the pradhan mantri krishi sinchayee yojana to ensure crop security.“migration is often a last resort for rural households. strengthening non-farm employment and irrigation can significantly mitigate this distress,” said dr. mandal, associate professor, department of humanities and social sciences, iit madras.dr. sreekumar added that income from non-farm activities enables investment in inputs, skills, and technologies, thereby enhancing agricultural resilience. irrigation, on the other hand, ensures food security, stabilises yields, and reduces drought vulnerability and farmer distress.the study also highlighted the role of social group memberships—such as cooperatives and self-help groups—in mitigating migration. the researchers called for expansion of farmer-based organisations and agricultural extension services to strengthen rural support systems and reduce climate-induced distress migration.