Asian Research Journal of Agriculture

Over the past decades the contribution of farm labour has been decreasing due to occupational change, low wages, irregular employment, government policies and reforms. The severe shortage of agricultural labourers in the state has compelled farmers to transition from agricultural practices to non-agricultural activities. Structural changes in the cropping pattern resulting from labour scarcity were analysed using the Markov chain approach over a ten-year period. The result indicated that mmong them paddy has the highest retention probability with 64 per cent followed by Sugarcane retained 54 per cent and other crops. The study revealed a discernible shift in the cropping pattern, with the transition predominantly favouring the cultivation of less labour-intensive crops. The analysis of the supply–demand gap in agricultural labour further indicated that labour demand exceeded labour supply during the months of November and December, thereby reflecting the severity of labour scarcity prevailing in the study area during this period. Paddy and sugarcane demanded maximum labour in the month of December and November which coincided with harvesting and sowing operation of groundnut crops. Spatio-temporal changes map shown in agricultural labour in the patterns of distribution of agricultural labourers in areas of high decrease (above 1 per cent) in the proportion of agricultural labour were comprised of five villages of the state. Similarly, area of low decrease (below 1 per cent) has occurred over three zones of the state and areas of increase (0.02 - 4 per cent) indicated that an increase in the proportion of agricultural labour has been witnessed in a nine zones in U.T of Puducherry. Finally, the study suggested that the farm mechanization has to be encouraged among the small and marginal farmers. Further, it suggested that the MGNREGA has be implemented during the lean season.