Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal

Abstract Background Though the migration of skilled manpower is common all over the world, it has created serious problem and huge loss to least developed countries like Nepal. Most of the skilled manpowers are attracted toward developed countries through better incentives, scholarships and better s...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rishi Ram Kattel, Mahesh Sapkota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-08-01
Series:Agriculture & Food Security
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0213-1
_version_ 1818111398601818112
author Rishi Ram Kattel
Mahesh Sapkota
author_facet Rishi Ram Kattel
Mahesh Sapkota
author_sort Rishi Ram Kattel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Though the migration of skilled manpower is common all over the world, it has created serious problem and huge loss to least developed countries like Nepal. Most of the skilled manpowers are attracted toward developed countries through better incentives, scholarships and better services and facilities. Although remittance has significant and high contribution to national gross domestic product but in long term, it reduces human welfare and economic growth of the nation. Nowadays, migration of agriculture and veterinary graduates is increasing day by day resulting in scarcity of skilled manpower in this sector. This paper aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of the brain drain of Nepali agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad, showing that brain drain (or high-skill migration) is becoming dominant pattern of international migration and a major aspect of globalization. Methods Web-based structural survey questionnaire was used to assess push and pull factors to migrate abroad and factors determination among already brain drained respondents and students those studying agriculture and veterinary in Nepal. The total of 450 samples were obtained from online survey as well as few face-to face interviews in July 2015. Descriptive analysis and Logit model were used to derive necessary inferences using Stata software. Results The study revealed that about 52% of students intend to go abroad, either to pursue higher study or for better job opportunities and better livelihood. Poor higher education system in Nepal (42.7%), socioeconomic condition (29.8%) and desire to go abroad (25%) were major push factors toward brain drain, whereas high income and better living standard (29.7%), better job and working environment (25.6%), family future security (17.4%), personal freedom (9.9%) and political stability in abroad (10.7%) were found major pulling factors of skilled manpower to abroad from Nepal. Logit model revealed that the age of respondent and household member migration to abroad were positive and significant determining factors for brain drain, whereas total household income has negative impact on brain drain controlling other socioeconomic variables. Conclusion This study identified that majority of the students studying agriculture and veterinary sciences in Nepal are willing to go abroad either for better higher education or for better living standard and job opportunities. This suggests that brain drain is individual feature in least developed country like Nepal and government should formulate better policy to control brain drain considering all consequences that can hamper economic growth of the country.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T03:02:25Z
format Article
id doaj.art-edf477e52da54fac8bd642fe9cc17e18
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2048-7010
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T03:02:25Z
publishDate 2018-08-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Agriculture & Food Security
spelling doaj.art-edf477e52da54fac8bd642fe9cc17e182022-12-22T01:23:01ZengBMCAgriculture & Food Security2048-70102018-08-01711910.1186/s40066-018-0213-1Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from NepalRishi Ram Kattel0Mahesh Sapkota1Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU)Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock DevelopmentAbstract Background Though the migration of skilled manpower is common all over the world, it has created serious problem and huge loss to least developed countries like Nepal. Most of the skilled manpowers are attracted toward developed countries through better incentives, scholarships and better services and facilities. Although remittance has significant and high contribution to national gross domestic product but in long term, it reduces human welfare and economic growth of the nation. Nowadays, migration of agriculture and veterinary graduates is increasing day by day resulting in scarcity of skilled manpower in this sector. This paper aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of the brain drain of Nepali agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad, showing that brain drain (or high-skill migration) is becoming dominant pattern of international migration and a major aspect of globalization. Methods Web-based structural survey questionnaire was used to assess push and pull factors to migrate abroad and factors determination among already brain drained respondents and students those studying agriculture and veterinary in Nepal. The total of 450 samples were obtained from online survey as well as few face-to face interviews in July 2015. Descriptive analysis and Logit model were used to derive necessary inferences using Stata software. Results The study revealed that about 52% of students intend to go abroad, either to pursue higher study or for better job opportunities and better livelihood. Poor higher education system in Nepal (42.7%), socioeconomic condition (29.8%) and desire to go abroad (25%) were major push factors toward brain drain, whereas high income and better living standard (29.7%), better job and working environment (25.6%), family future security (17.4%), personal freedom (9.9%) and political stability in abroad (10.7%) were found major pulling factors of skilled manpower to abroad from Nepal. Logit model revealed that the age of respondent and household member migration to abroad were positive and significant determining factors for brain drain, whereas total household income has negative impact on brain drain controlling other socioeconomic variables. Conclusion This study identified that majority of the students studying agriculture and veterinary sciences in Nepal are willing to go abroad either for better higher education or for better living standard and job opportunities. This suggests that brain drain is individual feature in least developed country like Nepal and government should formulate better policy to control brain drain considering all consequences that can hamper economic growth of the country.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0213-1Agriculture and veterinary graduatesBrain drainLogitNepal
spellingShingle Rishi Ram Kattel
Mahesh Sapkota
Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal
Agriculture & Food Security
Agriculture and veterinary graduates
Brain drain
Logit
Nepal
title Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal
title_full Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal
title_fullStr Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal
title_short Brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad: evidence from Nepal
title_sort brain drain of agriculture and veterinary graduates to abroad evidence from nepal
topic Agriculture and veterinary graduates
Brain drain
Logit
Nepal
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0213-1
work_keys_str_mv AT rishiramkattel braindrainofagricultureandveterinarygraduatestoabroadevidencefromnepal
AT maheshsapkota braindrainofagricultureandveterinarygraduatestoabroadevidencefromnepal