Bhubaneswar: Lack of irrigation facilities and changing weather patterns are increasingly affecting rural livelihoods, forcing people to migrate in search of better economic opportunities, said Benoy Peter, Executive Director at Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development, on Friday.

He was speaking during a session titled ‘Migration & Climate’ at the Earth Again Conference 2026 organised by the Sambad Group in the Odisha capital here.  

According to Peter, the absence of irrigation means that farmers in many villages are able to cultivate only one crop a year, leaving little scope for generating cash income. Earlier, a single crop was enough to ensure food security for rural households. However, changing climatic conditions have now put even that limited food security at risk.

Rainfall patterns have also become increasingly unpredictable. “There is often no rain during June when farmers need it for cultivation, while rainfall occurs in December when crops are ready for harvesting,” Peter said.

Rising temperatures during summer have added to the difficulties. Extreme heat makes agricultural work more challenging, while small streams and other local water sources are increasingly drying up, further reducing water availability for farming and daily needs.

With limited employment opportunities and few alternative sources of livelihood in villages, many people are compelled to leave their homes and migrate outside their villages and the state.

However, migration is not viewed only as a consequence of climate-related distress. For many families, it also provides an opportunity to improve their standard of living. Migrant workers are able to earn money, send remittances home and help their children access better educational opportunities.

“Migration is not driven by climate change alone. It is also about the new hopes people have for a better life,” Peter said.

He stressed that people are leaving their homes not only because of natural disasters such as cyclones, but also because of poverty and the lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities in their native places.

The situation highlights the need for better irrigation, local employment opportunities and measures to strengthen rural livelihoods so that communities can cope with changing climatic conditions while reducing distress-driven migration.