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The geographies of intermediation: Labor intermediaries, labor migration, and cane harvesting in rural western India

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  • Pronoy Rai

Abstract

In this paper, I explain the role of labor intermediaries in the weaving of capital–labor relations in capitalist agro-business. I do so by focusing on migration infrastructure or the vertical network of labor intermediaries who facilitate labor recruitment from migrant home villages and migrant labor disciplining on cane fields in rural western India, where the laborers are brought seasonally to harvest sugarcane. I show how the role of labor intermediaries cannot be understood by containing them within the villainous stereotypes associated with brokers. Intermediaries are embedded within the labor geographies of commodity production where capital accumulation requires the downward transferring of the risk of financial loss from capitalist agro-business to intermediaries and laborers. I collected data for this research by conducting interviews and focus-group discussions in the Yavatmal and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra state in rural western India during summer 2014 and 2015–2016.

Suggested Citation

  • Pronoy Rai, 2020. "The geographies of intermediation: Labor intermediaries, labor migration, and cane harvesting in rural western India," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 52(6), pages 1221-1236, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:52:y:2020:i:6:p:1221-1236
    DOI: 10.1177/0308518X20903728
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Isabelle Guérin & Augendra Bhukhut & Kamala Marius & Govindan Venkatasubramanian, 2009. "Neo-bondage, Seasonal Migration, and Job Brokers: Cane Cutters in Tamil Nadu," Post-Print hal-03239980, HAL.
    2. repec:ilo:ilowps:338944 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Klaus Deininger & Daniel Monchuk & Hari K Nagarajan & Sudhir K Singh, 2017. "Does Land Fragmentation Increase the Cost of Cultivation? Evidence from India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 82-98, January.
    4. Massey, Douglas S. & Taylor, J. Edward (ed.), 2004. "International Migration: Prospects and Policies in a Global Market," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199269006.
    5. David Picherit, 2009. "Workers, Trust Us!' Labour Middlemen and the Rise of the Lower Castes in Andhra Pradesh," Post-Print hal-03239988, HAL.
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