Abstract :
Steep fall in the State Domestic Product from the share of agriculture and allied activities from 22 per cent in 1999-2000 to 8.33 per cent in 2014-15 indicates the decline in agricultural sector which was once the backbone of Kerala economy. Kerala agriculture is faced with twin problems of farmers as well as farm labourers abandoning cultivation. Traditional farmers are seen leaving farming due to instability in price of produce and income, seasonal labour scarcity and high labour cost, and ultimately unfavourable benefit cost ratio. Younger generations are not attracted to farming mainly due to lack of life security, social security, social status and drudgery in farming operations. Labour bank initiatives have been undertaken under the auspices of certain local governments to address the problem of labour scarcity and irregular employment opportunities to labourers. Green Army Labour Bank (GALB) was formed as an institutionalized self-sustaining group of skilled labour force fostered by the local body of Wadakkanchery block in Thrissur district in 2008 with modern farm techniques and interventions and farm machineries. A systematic study has been undertaken to assess the impact of GALB on the welfare of the stake holders and status of rice farming. GALB as a labour institution could increase the labour availability and income and thus improve the welfare of its members. These benefits were partially not available for a section of ordinary labourers who were not GA members. The loss in their labour days and income may be compensated by other complimentary employment programmes like MGNREGS, other income generating activities and increasing labour opportunities in the area. GA intervention could bring more area under plough, improve cropping intensity and thus create more labour days. The potential of the labour institutions should be realized and exploited to meet the present challenge of the State, the fallow land utilization. The farmers associated with GA were benefited by higher crop productivity, income and BCR of rice farming. Improving rice area and productivity a will improve the total food grain production . The results of the study will help to evaluate the working of the newly launched ‘KarshikaKarmasena’ by the State of Kerala. Institutionalising of labour bank system with convergence of Local Self-government, State Governments departments, Co-operative banks and NGO’s can be a replicable model for addressing the issues of labour scarcity, lack of capital faced by the farmers and welfare of labourers.
Keyword :
Labour banks, Rice forming sector, GALB