Agricultural sector labor migration: case study in Patanas Villages

Abstract

Population migration is a common phenomenon in rural communities. It shows an effort to find opportunities to get a better job outside the village. The migration process also occurs in the village, the research site of the National Farmer Panel (Patanas). This paper aims to (1) look at the magnitude and type of migration in the Patanas village and (2) identify the push and pull factors of migration. The research method used is descriptive. The results showed that among the three types of migration, the most dominant types were commuters, followed by circular and permanent. The push factors of migration in Patanas villages are dominated by: (1) limited employment opportunities in rural areas, (2) no or narrow land tenure, (3) low agricultural wages and seasonal nature, and (4) less prestigious. While there are three main pull factors in migrant destinations: (1) it is easy to find a job or try at the destination, (2) wages in the destination area are higher than in origin, and (3) wages are earned routinely. To downsize the migration rate, the government must provide better infrastructure in the village, a prerequisite for economic development in rural areas.