Factors affecting on agricultural labour supply in Davangere district of Karnataka: An economic analysis

This study conducted in Davangere district of Karnataka has analysed the factors affecting on agricultural labour supply. The study is based on the primary data collected from 200 sample agricultural labours. The study revealed that socio-economic factors like age, education, caste and land holding are negatively influenced on agricultural labour supply. As far as age is concerned, young labours of the rural area are reluctant to work as agricultural labourer even though they have no alternative works available in their locality. Participation in agricultural activities is the lowest among the young labours compared to middle age group labours. Education plays a vital role in selection of employment. Labours participation in agricultural works is found to be relatively more among the illiterate labours compared to educated labours. Educated youths are not willing to work as agricultural labour and they want to work as salaried employee in urban areas or government employee. Agricultural labour supply is also affected by the caste. This study revealed that labour participation in agricultural activities is more in scheduled caste followed by scheduled tribe and other category. And, the most significant feature is that among the all castes labours are engaged in non-agricultural works. Another important factor is land holding of the family. Labours participation in agricultural activities is more in land less (having no land) families compared to land holding (<than 2acres) families. For all these reasons agricultural labour supply has been declining drastically and it has affected the farm productivity. On the other hand wages are increasingly for agricultural operations due to labour scarcity and it has increased the production cost for the farmers.