Labour migration in Indian agriculture: Patterns, drivers and consequences—A systematic review

Approximately 45 % of the global population resides in rural areas, where agriculture, including livestock, accounts for 28 % of worldwide employment. Despite these notable figures, substantial structural shifts have occurred in the agricultural sector in recent decades, influencing employment and labour dynamics. Rapidly growing economies, such as India, are anticipated to witness an increasing disparity in living standards between rural and urban areas, resulting in heightened migration from rural to urban regions. In India, labour migration is significantly influenced by social structures and development patterns. Uneven development, intensified by factors like unemployment, low rural wages, agricultural challenges, insufficient industrial support, poverty, limited job opportunities and natural disasters, is the primary driver behind migration. This paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the current literature, presenting a systematic review and thematic analysis of the evolving landscape of agricultural labour migration. It examines the drivers, challenges and socioeconomic impacts of migration, addressing aspects like the feminization of agriculture, diverse types of agricultural migration, the role of technology and the impact of government policies on employment. The study emphasizes the importance of future policy considerations in this domain.