Analysis of Human Labour Utilization in Cotton Production in Gujarat

The utilization pattern of human labour in cotton production in Gujarat has been analysed over a period of past 28 years (1980-81 to 2006-07). The total period has been deivided into three sub-periods: first (1981-82 to 1989-90), second (1990-91 to 1999-00) and third (2000-01 to 2006-07) for the purpose of analysis. Source of the data was Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices, New Delhi. The study has revealed a decreasing trend in human labour utilization up to the year 2000-01, and afterwards it started increasing. But the cost of human labour per ha has shown an increasing trend during the entire period of analysis. On an average, 111.33 person-days of human labour was utilized per ha of cotton cultivation during the period of analysis. Of this, family labour contributed 48.3 per cent and remaining was the hired labour. Significant growth has not been observed in per hectare human labour utilization during the period of analysis. But, during first and second sub-periods, there was a significant decrease in the total human labour, while there was an increase in the third sub-period. The cost of human labour per hectare as well as its share in working cost increased continuously during the period of analysis. Family labour income has been found positive in all the three sub-periods. Income per personday of family labour has been higher than the wage rate, indicating the profitable nature of cotton cultivation in Gujarat.