Rural Development through Labour Bank

Present day agriculture is faced with twin problems of both farmers and farm labourers abandoning cultivation. Traditional farmers are seen leaving farming due to instability in price of produce and income, seasonal labour scarcity and high labour cost, and ultimately unfavorable BC ratio. Younger generations are not attracted to farming mainly due to lack of life security, social security, social status and drudgery in farming operations. Institutionalizing labour with convergence of Local government, Agriculture and allied departments, Co-operative banks and NGOs' can address the issues of labour scarcity and low income faced by farmers and problems of agricultural labourers. Green Army Labour Bank is such an institutionalized self sustaining group of skilled labour force proficient in farm mechanization fostered by the local body of Wadakkanchery Block, Thrissur District in Kerala, India. This book brings out the organizational structure, functioning and its impacts on welfareof labourers, benefits to farmers and improvement in rice farming sector, and will be helpful for the students and teachers in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Planners and Policy makers.