Question

Analyse the problem of underemployment in agriculture sector in India.

Answer 1

The primary causes and characteristics of this problem include:

• Overcrowded Farms: More than 40% of India's workforce relies on agriculture, but the sector contributes less than 20% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Lack of Alternative Jobs: Millions of labourers remain stuck in farming simply because the manufacturing and service sectors do not create enough low-skilled jobs.
• Small Land Holdings: The average farm size in India is tiny and fragmented, meaning a small plot must support an entire multi-generational family.
• Seasonal Nature of Work: Farming only requires intense labor during sowing and harvesting, leaving workers with little to no work for several months of the year.
• Low Individual Income: Because total farm income is divided among too many hands, every worker earns less, trapping rural families in poverty.