Impact of Human Labour on the Cost of Cultivation Expenses of Major Cereal Crops in India
Sahin Aktar Munshi
Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Bikram Barman
Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Anushka Kumari Sinha
Division of Agricultural Economics, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat - 396450, India.
Hemanth DB
Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Abhijit Das
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara- 144411, Punjab, India.
Indrajit Mondal *
Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi- 110012, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
India's primary cereal crops—paddy (Oriza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) are highly dependent on labour from agricultural workers and are essential to the nation's agricultural economy. Owing to a lack of mechanisation in many areas, labour costs differ greatly depending on the area, size of the farm, and socioeconomic status. Exorbitant labour expenses primarily impact small and marginal farmers, diminishing their profitability and possibly impacting crop selection and food security. This study highlights how labour costs account for a sizeable portion of total agricultural expenses by examining the effect of labour costs on the cost of cultivating these crops across various Indian states. The study also looks at how mechanisation has been adopted unevenly, with some states reporting lower labour costs as a result of increased machinery use. This study indicates that the labour cost for cultivating paddy was highest in Assam (45%), while for maize (20%), it was highest in Andhra Pradesh (25%), and for wheat, in Bihar. Total labour cost was highest in Maize (₹2,3304) followed by Paddy (₹26,665), Wheat (₹13,960). This study suggested that mechanisation, wage standards, and labour management techniques could all help to reduce the high costs associated with using human labour to cultivate cereal crops.
Keywords: Agriculture, cereal, cost, crops, labour, policy