India’s rural employment guarantee boosts demand for agricultural technology

Anil K. Bhargava, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, International Food Policy Research Institute, International Livestock Research Institute, International Rice Research Institute and WorldFish

No 6, CSISA project notes from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Abstract: This study shows that the program (i.e., MGNREGA) leads small and marginal farm owners to adopt labor-saving technologies that replace labor-intensive alternatives. In other words, MGNREGA decreases the threshold farm size associated with basic labor-saving technology use. In addition, MGNREGA’s focus on providing public water infrastructure appears to be decreasing the use of diesel and electric-powered water pumps. A focus on education and agricultural skill development may augment the chances that workers are prepared for a higher-productivity agricultural sector. Future data on long-run labor use, wages, output and technology adoption patterns will give much better insight into where MGNREGA villages end up in the long run.

Keywords: marginal farms; education; rural employment; skilled labour; labour legislation; social protection; demand; farm income; unskilled labour; labour costs; smallholders; public works; innovation adoption; agricultural mechanization; rural development; labour-saving technologies; agricultural productivity; remuneration; skill training; agricultural workers; female labour; India; Southern Asia; Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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