Abstract:
Need of land is the reason that migration occurs since it is one of the main
resources for the people in rural areas. It contributes to shaping their behaviors,
including migratory behavior. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the
extent of the relationship to landholding on out migration. Utilizing the data of round 1
(2000) from a five-year Demographic and Surveillance System project of the Institute
for Population and Social Research, the relationship to landholdings on out migration
was investigated. The study population was 18,647 people aged 15 to 59 from 8,427
households in 79 villages. Multilevel analysis, including individual, household and
community levels, was carried out by using the STATA software package.
The findings suggested that landholdings play a very important role in holding
people from migrating out in the context of Kanchanaburi province. When related
factors are being controlled, owned land exerted significantly influence related to out
migration. Those from households with any size of owned land are less likely to
migrate than those from households with no land. Meanwhile, people from households
that cultivated more than 10 rais of land are significantly less likely to migrate out as
compared to those from households without any cultivated land. Moreover, factors at
the individual, household and community levels that are related to landholdings and
migration also indicate statistically significant relationships with out migration when
other factors, including land, are equal.
As the landless are found to be more likely to migrate than others, the
government should formulate policies to distribute available land to the landless. In
addition, the villagers should work closely together with the government and nongovernmental
organizations to establish programs to increase farming productivity by
introducing various crops. Another program should also be established to provide care
to the elderly who are left behind when others have migrated out.