Remittances flows to farm households in rural Punjab: an empirical analysis

ABSTRACT This study, based on primary data, highlights various facets of overseas remittances received by rural farm households of Punjab. Importantly, higher proportion of sampled farm households had received overseas remittances on regular basis. Per-household and per capita amount of remittances realized was substantial. All size class of land holders had received remittances with no unique relationship to size of holding. The remittances, in overall, had contributed substantially to income of households. The pattern of utilization of remittances showed their diverse uses. The level of remittances depends upon 'years of stay of first emigrant in destination country', 'education of first emigrant from family', and 'number of persons abroad from family'. However, remittances had practically bypassed agriculture sector as large number of sampled households has completely leased out their agricultural land and very small proportion of received remittances was used for purchase of agricultural land and machinery.