Arghakhanchi sees surge in migration
Chaap village of Shitaganga Municipality–11 in Arghakhanchi, once home to around 45 families, now lies completely deserted. Dumsi village, which previously had nearly 50 households, has also emptied out, leaving behind abandoned homes and uncultivated fields. Similar patterns are visible across the district. According to social worker Madhav Prasad Poudel of Siddhara, Gauchaur village in Sandhikharka–9 has also lost all its families, and many settlements—including Ghartikhor, Deep, Odharpani, Badhachaur, and Kundapani—now have more empty houses than occupied ones.
Teacher Chhabilal Chundali of Argha Rajasthal Secondary School said migration has sharply reduced student numbers. The school had 550 students five years ago; now it has only 225. Despite improvements in infrastructure, the outmigration continues. Social worker Chhabilal Bhusal of Argha Badhachaur said that even though the villages now have motorable roads, drinking water, electricity, internet, and telephone services, homes continue to empty and farmland is being abandoned.
Arghakhanchi, a hilly district in Lumbini Province, is experiencing intense migration from all six of its municipalities. Although development has reached even the remote areas, people continue to move to the Tarai and urban centers in search of better education, healthcare, employment, and security. In many villages, only elderly residents remain, as younger people have largely left. As a result, large tracts of farmland now lie uncultivated.
According to Tikaram Neupane, an officer at the Agricultural Knowledge Center, 28,609 hectares of cultivable land were in use in 2013. By 2024, only 21,247 hectares were cultivated—leaving 7,362 hectares, or more than 25 percent, fallow. Locals noted that in the past, all types of land—including Tari, Bagar, plains, and hillside terraces—were farmed, but now only small plots near homes are cultivated. Pom Narayan Poudel of Gauchaur said that fear of wild animals and the absence of neighbors had forced entire communities to shift temporarily to Butwal. Shitaganga Municipality has seen the highest number of abandoned fields, though the situation is similar across the district.
Compared to the past, the villages have seen significant development. Two decades ago, there were no motorable roads, people carried goods from Butwal on their backs, water came from springs, and letters arrived only once a month. Today, roads reach every ward, drinking water flows from taps, electricity is available in almost all homes, mobile phones are widespread, and schools and health posts function in every ward. Yet despite these improvements, migration continues. Many houses now stand empty, and even in those still occupied, residents aged 16 to 50 are rare. Some families have migrated officially with documentation, while many others have left informally.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ personal incident registration data, 5,082 households migrated from Arghakhanchi between 2020 and July 2025. With an average family size of five, nearly 25,000 people left the district in just five years. The district’s population, recorded at 197,632 in the 2011 census, had dropped to 177,086 by the 2021 census—a decrease of more than 20,500 people. The Survey Department lists 26,301 hectares as cultivable land, but only 21,247 hectares are currently under cultivation, leaving around 5,100 hectares fallow. A decade ago, around 28,000 hectares were being farmed.
Despite the reduction in cultivated land, food production has not fallen significantly due to the use of hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers, and improved farming techniques. In the fiscal year 2023/24, the district produced 86,438 metric tons of grains, while annual consumption needs stood at 65,541 metric tons. Based on the estimated 2022 population of 179,477, the district produced an average of 365 kg of grain per person—well above the annual requirement of 201 kg—resulting in a surplus of 29,466 metric tons. Rice production shows a similar trend: although the cultivated area decreased from 7,425 hectares in 2018/19 to 6,354 hectares now, production increased from 24,131 metric tons to 25,887 metric tons.
Local youths say political parties repeatedly promise to curb migration and create employment opportunities but rarely deliver. Former Deputy Speaker Pushpa Bhusal said that despite improvements in physical infrastructure, people migrated because they did not feel real economic benefits. She warned that unless self-employment and local jobs are created in the villages, migration will continue. Experts stress that sustainable solutions—such as developing agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism, and skill-based industries—are essential to retain youth and ensure the district’s long-term development.
Local governments have begun initiatives to support farmers. Sandhikharka Municipality and Panini Rural Municipality have partnered with Janata Agro and Forestry Limited to guarantee fair prices, provide quality seeds and fertilizers, and promote commercial agriculture. According to Sandhikharka Mayor Krishna Prasad Shrestha, various tools, seeds, and fertilizers have been distributed based on farmers’ needs, and efforts are underway to organize local groups for production and economic growth. However, leaders and residents agree that unless these programs generate substantial employment and income, the ongoing depopulation of Arghakhanchi’s hills will be difficult to halt.
