Agricultural Labour: An Analysis on Employment, Age-Wise Engagement and Comparative Study

Abstract

Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, accounting for 18.3% of our GDP. The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in terms of employment and food security in India. Its main components are land, labour, and capital, with a particular focus on agricultural labourers. This study aims to shed light on the current scenario of agricultural labour by examining the number of people employed and their average age. It relies on secondary data collected from the Ministry of Agriculture, Periodic Labor Force Survey, and various other statistical surveys. The study analyses the employment trends of agricultural labourers while comparing them to past trends to highlight the significant change. It further delves into the age-wise engagement and distribution of the labourers and discusses the potential impact of this. The study also compares agricultural labour with labour in other sectors and briefly discusses the impact of emerging sectors on agriculture. This study's aim is to provide a better understanding of the position of agricultural labour and ways in which it can be improved to ensure a prospective future for agricultural labourers. This, in turn, will contribute effectively to the country's economy through increased food production.