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Nature and Dynamics of Farm Labour Work: A Case Study of Cotton in the Indian Punjab

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  • Sukhpal Singh

    (IIM)

Abstract

This paper examines the nature and state of farmer and farm worker labour relations in the context of a commercial cash crop—cotton—which is a high value crop in Punjab and of importance to both farmers and workers, with secondary and primary data, including insights from focus groups with both men and women workers. It finds that though the wage engagement is more of casual daily labour but piece rate based in picking of cotton, there is some gendering of tasks and gender gap in wages when it is not piece rate based. Further, workers also find cotton an important crop in their livelihood strategy as other major crops of the state (wheat and paddy) are mostly mechanised in their operations. The paper concludes by highlighting major research and policy issues and way forward for making farm labour markets pro-poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Sukhpal Singh, 2021. "Nature and Dynamics of Farm Labour Work: A Case Study of Cotton in the Indian Punjab," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 64(2), pages 447-459, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijlaec:v:64:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s41027-021-00321-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s41027-021-00321-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adam Sneyd, 2014. "When Governance Gets Going: Certifying ‘Better Cotton’ and ‘Better Sugarcane’," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 45(2), pages 231-256, March.
    2. Sukhpal Singh, 2013. "Governance and upgrading in export grape global production networks in India," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series ctg-2013-33, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    3. Gillson, I & Poulton, Colin & Balcombe, Kelvin & Page, S, 2004. "Understanding the impact of Cotton Subsidies on developing countries," MPRA Paper 15373, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Lakhwinder Singh & Nirvikar Singh (ed.), 2016. "Economic Transformation of a Developing Economy," India Studies in Business and Economics, Springer, edition 1, number 978-981-10-0197-0, December.
    5. Ben Selwyn, 2012. "Beyond firm-centrism: re-integrating labour and capitalism into global commodity chain analysis," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 205-226, January.
    6. V. Gidwani, 2001. "The Cultural Logic of Work: Explaining Labour Deployment and Piece-Rate Contracts in Matar Taluka, Gujarat - Parts 1 and 2," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(2), pages 57-108.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    Gender; Cotton; Farm work; Wages; State; Punjab;
    All these keywords.

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