Cross-border entrepreneurship: the economic impact of Bangladeshi migrants in small-scale tea cultivation in India

Purpose The present study aims to investigate the entrepreneurial dynamics and economic outcomes of small-scale tea cultivation (STC) among Bangladeshi migrant farmers in the North Bengal region of India. It explores how migration-induced entrepreneurship contributes to livelihood transformation, regional development and the regeneration of the tea economy. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a mixed-method approach combining quantitative income comparisons with qualitative field insights. Data were collected from both migrant and non-migrant small-scale tea growers to examine income differentials, entrepreneurial motivation and socio-economic integration. The study applies the migration–entrepreneurship–development nexus as its guiding framework. Findings Studies’ findings reveal that Bangladeshi migrant cultivators have significantly enhanced their earnings and socio-economic status after engaging in STC. Migrant entrepreneurs outperform non-migrant counterparts in terms of income and innovation adoption, driven by strong community networks, experiential learning and social capital. The study highlights how informal institutional arrangements and collective action have enabled migrants to overcome structural barriers such as limited land access, capital constraints and market exclusion. Originality/value The study contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship by linking transnational migration with agrarian entrepreneurship and rural development. It demonstrates how migrant communities transform displacement into opportunity through entrepreneurial adaptation, thereby offering a novel perspective on inclusive growth in peripheral regions.