Agricultural Labor Research Articles

Naming and dividing: the production of residual labour in the region of Doñana

AbstractThrough a case study of the production of agricultural wage labour in southwestern Spain, in the region of Doñana, this articles analyses the process of constructing agricultural wage labour as a residual social relation. Through analysis of the deployment of labour in agro-industrial berry production, I trace the ways in which the notions of “temporariness” and “slave work” obscure the centrality of labour in the agricultural production process and conceal the reconfiguration of relations of exploitation.

The Seasonality of Labour in Ceramic Production and Agriculture in the Ancient Greek Rural World

This article explores the seasonality of labour in ceramic production and its correlation with agricultural tasks, focusing on a Hellenistic kiln site in Sant’Angelo Vecchio, southern Italy, in the hinterland of Metaponto. Through a comprehensive examination of archaeological data and the outcomes of an experimental archaeology project, the study estimates the labour required for various stages of the pottery-making operational sequence. The findings reveal that small-scale rural workshops mainly produced limited quantities of items primarily for household and agrarian use. Only two or three individuals, working part-time, were needed to manage the various tasks involved, such as raw material collection, transportation, clay preparation, vessel shaping and kiln firing. The findings also demonstrate that the seasonal nature of their pottery work could be fitted within the seasonal rhythms of agricultural activities. This research highlights the interconnectedness of all productive activities in the region; sites and tasks are intricately linked, fostering a flexible and seasonal labour system in both ancient and modern Mediterranean societies.

Adaptation Processes of Koreans in Surkhandaryo Province

Article is devoted to the study of adaptation processes and socio-economic integration of Koreans who settled in Surkhandarya region as a result of the deportation of Koreans from the Far East to Uzbekistan SSR in 1937. Through historical and sociological methods of analysis, the article examines Koreans' contribution to agriculture, their integration into local society, and their efforts to preserve their cultural heritage. Based on archival materials, statistical analyzes are presented about the activities of the collective farm “Iskra” in Shorchi district, the production of agricultural products and labor standards. The results of the study shed light on Koreans` adaptation to the new social environment and their contributions to society.

Optimizing Agricultural Labour: An Examination of On-Demand Workforce Solutions for Seasonal Demands

To address the growing challenges in managing on-demand Labour within the agricultural sector, we introduce Agro Finder, an innovative application developed using Figma for design and flutter for frontend development and firebase for backend. This research presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of Labour management in agriculture and proposes Agro Finder as a solution tailored to the sector's unique needs. The app leverages real-time data and sophisticated algorithms to streamline the connection between farmers and Labourers, optimizing Labour allocation based on geographic location, skills, and availability. Further analysis reveals that Agro Finder significantly enhances Labour utilization efficiency, reducing downtime in agricultural operations. The app's intuitive design, supported by Figma, ensures a user-friendly experience, while the fronted, powered by Flutter, provides reliable performance. The integration of these technologies facilitates efficient Labour management, leading to increased productivity and operational efficiency in agriculture. The research findings underscore the potential of applying modern development tools and methodologies to solve traditional problems in agriculture. By harnessing the power of Figma and Flutter, Agro Finder sets a new standard in on- demand Labour management, offering valuable insights and practical solutions. This study provides a solid foundation for future advancements in agricultural Labour management and highlights the importance of technological innovation in enhancing agricultural productivity. Key Words: on-demand Labour, agricultural management, mobile application development, Figma, Flutter, Labour allocation, real-time data processing, Firebase.

Inequality in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions intensity has risen in rural China from 1993 to 2020.

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in crop production while ensuring emission equity is crucial for sustainable agriculture in China, yet long-term large-scale data on GHG emissions intensity (GEI) are limited. Using an extensive dataset based on surveyed farm households (n > 430,000 households) from 1993 to 2020, we reveal that 2015 was a turning point for GEI levels, which dropped 16% in 2020, while inequality-measured as average GHG emissions per unit planted area-increased 13%. The key driving forces behind such trends included farmland input, all other inputs, agricultural labour input and total factor productivity but not capital input. Notably, farmland input and all other inputs contributed to 80% of the inequality, while contribution of total factor productivity gradually declined and was replaced by migration-induced agricultural labour input differences. Reducing GEI levels and guarding against widening inequality require optimizing production factor inputs.

Framing Agricultural Labor Issues: An Analysis of News Coverage of the H-2A Program

Framing Agricultural Labor Issues: An Analysis of News Coverage of the H-2A Program

Geriatric Oral Health and Quality of Life Among the Indigenous Irula Tribes of Tamil Nadu.

This study aims to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among the Irula tribes and to know the factors influencing quality of life among the elderly irula tribes of Tamil Nadu. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northern district of Tamil Nadu, including 486 Irula individuals aged 65 and above. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, including the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) to evaluate OHRQoL. The study tool covered demographics, medical history, and oral health issues. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23, with logistic regression applied to account for confounders. The sample primarily consisted of individuals aged 65-69 years (55.6%), with a predominance of females (76.3%). The majority were Hindu (94.9%) and lived in nuclear families (88.3%). Educational levels were low, with 66.5% being illiterate. Most participants were agricultural laborers (64.6%) and had low monthly incomes. GOHAI results revealed that many respondents faced significant oral health challenges, including difficulties with eating, speaking, and discomfort. Multivariate analysis showed that educational level significantly affected OHRQoL, with higher education correlating with better quality of life. Arthritis was associated with poorer OHRQoL, while other health conditions did not show significant impacts. The study highlights severe oral health issues among the Irula community, with significant physical and psychological impacts. Educational attainment plays a crucial role in OHRQoL, while arthritis notably affects quality of life. The findings emphasize the need for targeted oral health interventions and increased awareness in tribal communities to improve overall health outcomes. Further research in larger populations is necessary to comprehensively understand and address geriatric oral health needs.

Inter-Generational Occupational and Socio-Economic Pattern of Bhutias in Sikkim: Case Study of Lachung, Tashiding and Tathangchen

The paper discusses the inter-generational occupational and socio-economic pattern of Bhutias in Sikkim. Case studies of certain Bhutia families were conducted as an oral source for understanding their present status, changing lifestyle and their self perception about the present status. Bhutia families from three Bhutia dominated villages Lachung, Tashiding and Tathangchen in Sikkim were interviewed. The findings reveal that transformations and diversification in the occupational pattern among the Bhutia families in Sikkim has taken place. Agriculture as their traditional occupation has declined as they are pursuing other alternative occupations. The case study shows that the number of Bhutia agricultural households, both as agriculturist and agricultural labour has declined, but they continue as owners of large land plots. The study sheds light on the occupational shift from traditional occupations to business and trade, tourism, and salaried jobs over the years and generations.

How do policy measures affect the ability of poverty-stricken households to cope with external shocks? From the perspective of differences in the human capital endowment of households.

Human capital plays a vital role in poverty-stricken households' efforts to cope with external shocks. Improving the human capital of poverty-stricken households to help them address external shocks can enhance the sustainability of poverty-stricken household livelihoods and support poverty alleviation. In this study, households with dependent children and older members were selected from questionnaires covering 6,463 poverty-stricken households from 33 poverty alleviation districts and counties in Chongqing municipality, China. Multiple linear regression model and stepwise regression methods were then used to compare the effects of the number of household members supported and the number of those working on the increase in income among poverty-stricken and nonpoverty-stricken households. Finally, the correlations between policy measures, dependent household members and household labor were examined. The results show the following: (1) Policy measures can alleviate the negative impact of a household's dependent population on household income. (2) Poverty-stricken households' access to policy support is closely related to the characteristics of their human capital. The household's dependent members and laborers are effectively protected by safety net and cargo net policies. (3) Policy measures can mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the income of nonagricultural laborers while increasing the income of agricultural laborers. The findings show that the ability of poverty-stricken households to overcome poverty and deal with external shocks can be increased by revitalizing rural industries, linking the development of rural industries with the income of poverty-stricken households, and rationally using rural labor resources.

Long-distance hand tractor controlled by android system in Wetland Field

Modernization of agricultural practices is essential to overcome challenges such as decreasing agricultural labor and decreasing agricultural land in Indonesia. This research examines the development and performance of a hand tractor that is controlled remotely via an Android-based system using the NodeMCU ESP8266 module and a WiFi network. This study focuses on the technical and operational performance of hand tractors in wetlands. Modifications were made to the tractor, by installing three DC motors to control the clutch and gas levers. Tests were carried out on the control system accuracy and response time to assess the system's suitability for field operations. The research results show that the Android system has 100% accuracy in executing all commands given, but the response time decreases as the distance between the Android device and the WiFi module increases, with an average delay reaching 6,8 seconds for a maximum 100 m distance. Field efficiency testing shows that a tractor with Android control has a work efficiency of 70.48% in the plowing process and 75.33% in the harrowing process, lower than with manual control which reaches an efficiency of more than 95%. Despite response delays and reduced efficiency, the system is an important step toward agricultural mechanization, especially in labor-intensive wetlands.

Fabrication of Remotely Controllable Robotic Weed-Ejector Vehicle

Weed is an unwanted plant in an agriculture field that keeps the crop plants deprived of sunlight, fertilisers and water. If not removed, weed reduces the crop output to a larger extent i.e., endangering the farmer's interests. There are three main reasons for leaving weed to grow in fields and substantial loss of crop output 1) non-availability of agricultural labour, 2) fear of snake bites and 3) higher amounts of time required for weed injection. As of there are no successful ROVs (Remotely operating vehicles) to get to the weed and capable of pulling off the weed without the farmer physically entering into the agricultural fields. The Proposed model reduces farmers getting exposed to snake bites during weed ejection and reduces the time and labour requirement for weed ejection. The project involves the study of different mechanisms required for weed pull-off from the agricultural fields and remote-control systems, modelling of components, fabrication of components, assembly and testing of the Remotely Controllable Robotic Weed-Ejector Vehicle.

Anticipating prosperity: a systemic analysis of long-term economic trajectories

PurposeThis study introduces an innovative approach to long-term economic forecasting by integrating anticipatory governance (AG) and causal layered analysis methodologies. Focussing on emerging economies, with Vietnam as a case study, we explore potential economic trajectories to 2050.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative economic projections with qualitative scenario building and analysis.FindingsOur findings reveal four distinct future scenarios, ranging from low growth to transformative change. The preferred scenario, characterized by adaptive change, projects a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of $30,684 by 2050, with significant reductions in agricultural labour and improvements in human development indicators.Originality/valueThis study contributes to theoretical and practical domains by demonstrating the value of integrated foresight methodologies in economic planning. It offers policymakers a comprehensive framework for navigating complex, long-term economic challenges and opportunities. This research underscores the importance of adaptive governance and systemic thinking in achieving sustainable, inclusive economic growth in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Hestia to Demeter: Reducing Agrochemical Pollution to Empower Women Farmers

The 2020 Farm to Fork strategy by the European Commission aimed to reduce agrochemical pollutants and protect biodiversity but stirred controversy due to conflicts between intensive agriculture demands and environmental priorities. Strict limits on agrochemical residues required farmers to produce less. The de-intensification and agroecology prone policy impacted livelihoods, sparking political upheaval. Due to lack of pesticide alternatives and extension services, Lebanese exports have faced challenges complying with residue restrictions. Agricultural laborers and consumers are exposed to high levels of pesticide residue. Undocumented refugee women form a significant part of the agricultural workforce, and women led agricultural cooperatives have minimal access to funding, exacerbating gender inequity. The American University of Beirut (AUB) has played a pivotal role in agroecology research, rural development, and gender equity. Knowledge transfer promotes civic awareness and private sector partnerships. Local Natural enemies and parasites emerged as a residue-free alternative to agrochemicals. Biocontrol-based integrated pest management holds great potential for mitigating pesticides hazards to human and environmental health. Launching the “natural predators” initiative from women-run farms holds a great promise in dually resolving the problems of agrochemical pollution and gender equity in the agricultural sector. Empowering women in agriculture aims to transform their role from care work to farm management. This paper focuses on the technical aspects of developing “natural enemies” as pesticides alternative for Lebanese agriculture, aiming to overcome export challenges and revitalize the economy. "Farm to Fork meets Hestia to Demeter" underscores AUB's commitment to sustainability aligns climate action with gender equity. By supporting women entrepreneurs and addressing climate change's impact on public health, the initiative contributes to AUB's broader mission of advancing Lebanon and the region through Education for Sustainable Development.

The carbon emission reduction benefits of the transformation of the intensive use of cultivated land in China

The transformation of the intensive use of cultivated land has an important impact on agricultural carbon emissions (ACE). However, the existing research on the impact mechanisms of the transformation of intensive use of cultivated land on carbon emissions is not clear. In view of this, this study constructs the impact mechanism of the transformation of intensive use of cultivated land on carbon emissions from the perspective of production factors substitution based on the theory of induced technological change and the theory of marginal returns. Using the Cobb-Douglas production function, this study identifies the transformation patterns of intensive use of cultivated land in China from 1980 to 2021. Furthermore, this study simulates the carbon emission reduction benefits brought about by the transformation of the intensive use of cultivated land by considering the cost of agricultural production. The results show that, first, from 1980 to 2021, the price of agricultural labor increased by 224.10%, while the price of other agricultural production factors significantly decreased. China’s intensive use of cultivated land methods has undergone four stages: agricultural labor–intensive (ALI), yield–enhancing factor–intensive (YEFI), labor–saving factor–intensive (LSFI), and innovation factor–intensive (IFI). In 2021, most of China’s provinces were in the YEFI or ALI stages. Second, between 1993 and 2021, the transformation of China’s intensive use of cultivated land brought about an 87.48% increase in carbon emissions, while the spatial clustering effect of carbon emissions weakened. Furthermore, the results show that, the transition of the use of cultivated land from ALI to YEFI and YEFI to LSFI will reduce carbon emissions by 7.89%, and input factors costs will increase by 23.85%. If all regions, except for those in the IFI stage, transition to the LSFI model, it will result in a 17.56% reduction in carbon emissions, with a corresponding increase of 33.40% of the input factors input costs. This research enriches the theoretical foundation of literature about the transformation of the intensive use of cultivated land. It also expands the research perspective on agricultural carbon emissions. This research also helps provide references for the direction of the transformation of the intensive use of cultivated land in China and the achievement of the dual carbon goals.

Econometric analysis of factors influencing export performance of soybean (Glycine max) production in NIGERIA: An auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) approach

This study presents an econometric analysis of factors influencing the export performance of soybean (Glycine max) production in Nigeria using an auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) approach. The study used a secondary data covering the period from 2011 to 2022. The used data were collected from CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria), NBS (National Bureau of Statistics), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), and the General Household Survey-Panel (GHS-P) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the World Bank publication. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, Bound test, ARDL, and principal component model. The result of the ADF unit root test showed that the trade openness, consumer price index, exchange rate, population growth, world trade in oil seeds, agricultural labor, and soybean production were stationary at first difference I (1), while agricultural machinery was stationary at level I (0). The results of ARDL method showed that the consumer price index, population growth rate, world trade in oil seeds, agricultural labor, and agricultural machinery were significant factors influencing export performance of soybean in Nigeria. The trade openness and exchange rate were not different significantly from zero. The trade openness could not expand market access due to non-competitiveness of the Nigerian’s soybean. The exchange rate has lost its role with respect to soybean seed partners in international trade. The policies that would encourage exportation of this crop should be pursued by provision of storage facilities, granting of tax holidays, long term export credit at concessionary interest rate to exporters, and research activities towards improving the quality of produced agricultural products. Keywords: Export Performance, Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Auto-Regressive Distributive Lag, Soybean Production, Nigeria

Race, space, and social reproduction: The spatial organization of racialized labour in Italian food agriculture

This article addresses the question of migrant workers’ exploitation from a feminist political economy and critical race perspective. Overall, my analysis promotes a reinterpretation of workers’ exploitation beyond a narrow focus on labour and production, and towards a consideration of the active social differentiation and reproduction of the work force. Based on my analysis of Black African workers’ conditions in the Italian ‘tomato district’ of Northern Puglia and Basilicata, I argue that recent anti-gangmastering reforms have recalibrated existing tensions between formalizing and informalizing workers’ conditions, tensions that serve the double end of ensuring capital accumulation in agri-food production, while forcing racialized workers to take care of their social reproduction. Formalization, I argue, tends to drive a wedge between ‘productive labour’ and unpaid, ‘unproductive’ work, thus removing responsibility away from firms and state agencies to provide much-needed workers’ welfare. Informalization, I argue, represents a particular racializing dynamic of externalizing the cost of social reproduction to the workers and their extended social networks, who, in this manner, indirectly subsidize parallel circuits of accumulation.

Environmental shocks and agriculture: implications of floods on labor market outcomes

Abstract Floods often displace people and exacerbate their access to finance, affecting the livelihood of daily wage workers in least-developed countries. In August 2017, Nepal experienced the heaviest rainfall in more than 60 years, severely flooding about 80 per cent of the land in the southern part of the country. Using the two-way fixed effects approach and an event study design, we evaluate the impact of severe flooding on the wages of agricultural workers. We show that the 2017 floods resulted in a 9–10 per cent decrease in cash wages among agricultural households while in-kind wages of agricultural laborers increased significantly after the floods, implying that in-kind wages helped mitigate the adverse effects of floods on cash wages. We also investigate changes in assistance, loan-seeking behavior, loan repayment, and collection behavior as mechanisms leading to the risk-mitigating behavior by farmers.

Beyond the ‘gender gap’ in agriculture: Africa's Green Revolution and gendered rural transformation in Rwanda

The African Green Revolution (AGR) aims to modernize, intensify, and commercialize agriculture through increasing technology adoption by smallholder farmers. AGR interventions also promote gender equality, aiming to close the ‘gender gap’ in agriculture by enhancing women's access to purchased inputs, technology, land, and finance. With an empirical focus on Rwanda, this article examines the gendered implications of the AGR. We critically reflect on the notion of gender gaps and the associated tendency of development research to treat gender as a variable, assessing outcomes for male-headed versus female-headed households in terms of their access to material assets. We argue that these assessments overlook (1) the differential impacts of AGR policies within households and (2) how agricultural modernization influences gendered access to material resources as well as immaterial responsibilities, norms, and identities. Our findings from a mixed-methods study with four Rwandan communities show how the AGR empowers men as ‘modern’ farmers while marginalizing women's agricultural spaces, labor, and crops. We argue that development research and practice should move beyond the narrow focus on gender gaps to additionally consider how technologies and policies are themselves gendered in ways that can constrict food security, entrench inequitable power dynamics, and further marginalize women.

Технологизация аграрного сектора как основа продовольственной безопасности страны

The article discusses concepts and approaches to the definition of the concept of "food security" in the scientific literature and documents of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Under the influence of these ideas, a research boom began in daily nutrition practices and the study of their role in social health and active longevity of people. The problem of youth nutrition culture as an innovative group of society that determines the future state of the world has become, according to the authors, a trending research area. The analysis of the effectiveness of the use of information technologies and artificial intelligence in agriculture as drivers of industry development and food security is actively studied by domestic and foreign scientists. The dialogue of the scientific community is focused around the most relevant research topics: the problems of changing the nature of agricultural labor in the context of digitalization, robotization and the introduction of artificial intelligence; the impact of the technologization of agricultural enterprises on the specific activities of farmers, the existing risks of unintended destruction of ecosystems as a result of intensification of agriculture. Successful practices of using artificial intelligence in crop production and animal husbandry, the possibility of preserving traditional forms of farming on earth and many other issues are being actively studied. It is concluded that it is important to study the problems of agricultural technologization as a way to improve the efficiency of the industry and a way to ensure the country's food security.

Stakeholders Analysis in the Development of Local Paddy Varieties in Padang City

The development of local paddy varieties involves many stakeholders. Each stakeholder has a different role ranging from the socialization and farming to the marketing of local rice varieties. This research aims to identify stakeholders and analyze their role in developing local paddy varieties using a descriptive qualitative method. The respondents in this research are stakeholders involved in the development of local paddy varieties in Padang City. The results show that the stakeholders involved are the Padang City Agriculture Office, Agricultural Extension Center, farmers, farmer groups, landowners, seed breeders, production facilities providers, agricultural labor, rice milling units, collecting traders, colleges, sub-district administration, urban village administration, financial institutions, the Regional People’s Representative Council, retailers, and consumers. Classifications of stakeholders show that the Padang City Agriculture Office, the Agricultural Extension Center, farmers, and farmer groups have high influence and interest. These stakeholders are classified as key players. Meanwhile, sub-district administration, urban village administration, financial institutions, and Regional People’s Representative Council have low influence and interest. They are classified as the crowd. All of the stakeholders mentioned that roles play their position as policymakers, coordinators, facilitators, implementers, and accelerators. Keywords: paddy, stakeholders, interest, power, role