Question : AGRICULTURAL WORKERS

(a) whether the general wage level of agricultural workers has increased over a period of time consistent with the rise in the other sectors;

(b) if so, the details thereof in respect of the last decade;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the wage rise in the sector has not been able to arrest distress migration of agricultural workers; and

(e) if so, the manner in which the Government proposes to deal with the issue in order to ensure adequate availability of agricultural workers and also to sustain agricultural production?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 226 DUE FOR REPLY ON 28TH AUGUST, 2012.

(a) to (c): Wage levels in the agricultural sector have increased considerably during recent years. Wages for agricultural labour vary from State to State and from activity to activity. A table indicating the average daily wages for agricultural field labour for ploughing and harvesting at all India level and the average wages paid for industries covered under Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is given below which shows that percentage increase in average wage for agriculture (ploughing and harvesting) is higher than percentage increase in average wage for industrial workers covered by ASI during the decade 2001-2002 to 2010-11 is given annexure.

The rise in wages for agriculture labour during the last decade is due to various factors which include rising demand for labour in the context of faster economic growth, implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), etc.

(d): The arrest of distress migration of agricultural workers is being addressed by various policy measures like implementation of MGNREGA and other alternative employment and livelihood promotion opportunities in rural areas.

(e): There is generally adequate availability of agricultural labour to sustain agricultural production. However in order to address issues of higher cost and peak season shortage of agricultural labour and to improve the productivity of agriculture, farm mechanisation is being promoted by the Government.