FARM MECHANIZATION AND LABOUR DISPLACEMENT IN PADDY CULTIVATION: EVIDENCE FROM TAMIL NADU

Abstract

Farm mechanization has also led to more timeliness and efficiency of farm operations but has also created a concern regarding availability of labour, displacement of labour and off-farm employment of agricultural labourers. The study was conducted during the year 2025-2026 in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu by following an ex post facto research design. The data were collected from 120 agricultural labourers through a pre-tested structured interview schedule. The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, Pearson's Chi-square test and ranking technique. The study concluded that 55.83 per cent respondents were opined that manual agricultural labour is not readily available, whereas 60.00 per cent and 53.33 per cent reported that machinery operation labour and machinery repair services labour were readily available, respectively. Labor displacement due to farm mechanization was maximum in harvesting (95.83%), followed by ploughing (91.67%), threshing (90.00%) and transplanting (85.00%). Pearson's Chi square test results showed significant relationship between farm mechanization and labour displacement. The major non farm employment avenues adopted by the labourers were brick industry, hotels, bakery and tea shops and the service sector. Farm mechanization resulted into decreased dependence on manual labour and also increased employment for skilled labour related to machinery operation. Farm mechanization resulted into more diversity in occupations for the agricultural labourers.