Earlier this year, three men on a motorcycle opened fire on a group of agricultural migrants in the Moga district of Punjab, injuring two. Nirvair Singh, a purported member of the Devinder Bambiha gang, took responsibility for the attack in a social media post, marking it as a protest against migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who “spoil the atmosphere” of Punjab.

This incident was the culmination of a wave of resentment against migrants and their growing assertion in Punjab, predating the rape and murder of a five-year-old boy in Hoshiarpur, allegedly by a migrant worker in September 2025, which resulted in a coordinated expulsion campaign with the slogan “bhaiye bhajao, Punjab bachao” (drive out migrants, save Punjab).

Many in positions of power, including the chief minister, tried to diffuse tensions and reiterate the role of migrants in the economy of Punjab. It may be useful to take stock of the relative position of the agricultural economies of Punjab and Haryana, and tease out the reason why migrants are so crucial to these economies.

Why migrants are crucial

Punjab and Haryana are the top agricultural producers in the country. According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23, among households self-employed in agriculture, those in Kerala have the highest monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) in the country, followed by Punjab and Haryana. These are also the only three states in the country where MPCE for rural households self-employed in........

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