One of the aims of the Rural Livelihoods Futures study is the development of appropriate rapid appraisal methods. This is particularly important in areas like seasonal labour migration which are known to be important to rural livelihoods, yet where understanding is particularly scant. A survey was conducted using as key informants a panel of postgraduate students in Nepal. Most of the respondents were agricultural extension officers. The purpose was (a) to test the methodology, and if the results were encouraging (b) to use the data to gain an overview of migration patterns and dynamics and how they fit within a broader livelihoods framework. The data validation exercise produced encouraging results.