Stability in Seasonal Labour Absorption under Dryland Farming

Judicious balance in the availability and the use of various farm resources is one of the important dimensions in augmenting the efficiency of a farm production unit. Under supply of a given resource would act as a constraint on maximising returns from production activity, and its oversupply might push its use to a point where marginal returns to this factor would be low. Farm labour in Indian Agriculture exhibits a distinct characteristics of oversupply and under supply, depending on the intensity of seasonality in its requirements. The intensity of seasonality in labour employment is more pronounced in dry farming areas, where uncertainty of rainfall is high and mono-cropping in a dominant system. The spread of various cultivation operations in dry land crop production depends on the quantum and interval between rains, apart from the resources available, and the decisions of the farmers in handling these operations. For example, increased number and frequency of rains spread the land preparation, sowing and intercultivation operations over longer period and delayed rains would push land preparation and sowing to a shorter period.