Changing value of food and perception of food security in the context of male out-migration in Nepal

Abstract

International development practitioners argue that migration improves household food security in the origin areas, by providing access to capital for investing in agriculture or purchasing food. However, these debates have occurred without paying enough attention to the values that justify food production and consumption in the areas of origin. This paper questions the assumption that a shift from an agricultural-based economy to an economy based on remittances increases the ability of households to secure access to food in the face of rapid economic and cultural change. Based on the results of fieldwork conducted in Nepal, the paper argues that male out-migration adds to the workload of the women left behind, reduces women’s and men’s subjective attachment to agriculture in the area of origin and changes the values associated with land and agriculture. This makes the sector vulnerable and poses a threat to longer-term food security.