Commercialization of Agriculture and Structural Transformations in Labour-use in Kerala

Since the agricultural sector in Kerala is witnessing a structural transformation in its cropping pattern, this paper has analysed the changes in labour-use as a result of the shift from subsistence crops to commercial crops. The changes in farm employment have been studied due to two major factors, namely ‘acreage expansion’ and ‘new technology’. The data for past three decades (1981–91, 1999–01 and 2001–09) have shown distinct pictures of farm employment in Kerala. During 1981–91, technological factor was the most important factor accounting for the decline in farm employment and the change in crop pattern was the most important factor during the next two decades. The study has suggested that the shift in cropping pattern from subsistence (paddy and tapioca) to commercial (coconut and rubber) crops has resulted in large-scale labour displacement in the agricultural sector. The technology factor associated with HYVs, fertilizer, seed, water, machineary, etc. has also played an important role in the displacement of labour from the agricultural sector.