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Methodology of Data Collection Unsuited to Changing Rural Reality: A Study of Agricultural Wage Data in India

Author

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  • Yoshifumi Usami

    (Research Fellow, University of Tokyo, yoshiusami@gmail.com.)

  • Arindam Das

    (Joint Director, Foundation for Agrarian Studies and PhD Student, BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, arindam@fas.org.in.)

  • Madhura Swaminathan

    (Professor, Economic Analysis Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, madhuraswaminathan@gmail.com.)

Abstract

Technological change and the modernisation of agriculture in India have led to many changes in farming practices. The mechanisation of field operations such as ploughing and harvesting, for example, has not only changed total labour use in crop production but has led to changes in labour-hiring practices and in wage forms. There is a rise in labour arrangements that pay wages on a piece-rated basis rather than on a time-rated one. In this article, we examine the two major official sources of data on agricultural wages in India, Wage Rates in Rural India (WRRI) and Agricultural Wages in India (AWI), in the context of these changes in farming practices. In addition to reviewing published material, we conducted personal interviews with relevant officials at various agencies to understand the actual process of data collection. Village-level data from the archive of the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) are also examined to get a picture of the complexity of rural wage arrangements.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoshifumi Usami & Arindam Das & Madhura Swaminathan, 2020. "Methodology of Data Collection Unsuited to Changing Rural Reality: A Study of Agricultural Wage Data in India," Journal, Review of Agrarian Studies, vol. 10(2), pages 48-74, July-Dece.
    • Handle: RePEc:fas:journl:v:10:y:2020:i:2:p:48-74
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Takashi Kurosaki & Yoshifumi Usami, 2016. "A Note on the Reliability of Agricultural Wage Data in India: Reconciliation of Monthly AWI Data for District-Level Analysis," Journal, Review of Agrarian Studies, vol. 6(1), pages 6-38, January-J.
    2. Kurosaki, Takashi & Usami, Yoshifumi, 2016. "A Note on the Reliability of Agricultural Wage Data in India: Reconciliation of Monthly AWI Data for District-Level Analysis," Review of Agrarian Studies, Foundation for Agrarian Studies, vol. 6(1), July.
    3. Rao, V.M., 1972. ""Agricultural Wages in India" -A Reliability Analysis," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 27(3), pages 1-26.
    4. Sarthi Acharya, 2017. "Wages of manual workers in India: a comparison across states and industries," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 60(3), pages 347-370, September.
    5. Duvvuru, Narasimha Reddy & Motkuri, Venkatanarayana, 2013. "Declining Labour Use in Agriculture : A Case of Rice Cultivation in Andhra Pradesh," MPRA Paper 49204, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Acharya, Sarthi, 1989. "Agricultural Wages in India: A Disaggregated Analysis," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 44(2), April.
    7. Sarthi Acharya & Gustav F. Papanek, 1995. "Explaining Agricultural Wage Trends in India," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 13(1), pages 23-40, March.
    8. A. V. Jose, 2017. "Agricultural wages in Indian states," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 60(3), pages 333-345, September.
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    1. Patra, Subhajit & Mahato, Rakesh Kumar & Das, Arindam, 2021. "Impact of Covid-19 on Employment and Wages in Rural India, March-September 2020," Review of Agrarian Studies, Foundation for Agrarian Studies, vol. 11(2).

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