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

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.