Estimation of seasonal surplus labour in agriculture in different agro-climatic regions of Rajasthan

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken with a view to estimate the total surplus labour in agriculture to get an idea of how far agriculture provides employment to those who are fully engaged in it. The author then estimates the extent of surplus labour which is removable and the extent of seasonal surplus labour in different agro-climatic regions of Rajasthan as well as state as a whole. For this study, the primary data were collected from 200 households of 10 villages during 2018- 2019 and secondary data were used from census 2011. The results showed that there exists the total surplus labour ranging from 49.45 % in arid western and northern plain region to 80.13 % in semi-arid and flood prone region with the state level estimate of 68.33 % of labour availability. It was estimated that at the state level seasonal surplus labour is 10.51 % of the labour availability. Across the regions, the seasonal surplus labour ranges from 5.93 % in sub-humid and humid southern plain region to 19.61 % in arid western and northern plain region. This cause the unemployment, lower productivity of labour and migration of labour. To overcome such type of problems initiative to integrate MGNREGA with agriculture, create additional income opportunities for agricultural labourers, entrepreneurship training, small scale industries, and establishment of agri-business units.