Extent and Impact of Women Labor Unemployment in Agriculture and the Alternative Sources of Employment: An Economic Analysis, In Allahabad District of Uttar Pradesh

The present study on 'Extent and impact of women labor in agriculture-An economic analysis' was conducted in Chaka block, Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh state during 2014. A total of 30 women agricultural laborers were selected using multistage random sampling technique from six villages of Chaka block, namely Chak Hiranand, Baswar, Chaka, Barika, Mohabatganj Uparhar and Sandwa Kalan for collecting the required information. The data's were collected from the respondents by personal interview method and it included general information, their season wise employment and unemployment days in agriculture, the pattern and composition of employment, the impact of off season unemployment etc. For the purpose of achieving the specific objectives of the study tabular presentation method with averages and percentages was employed. The results of the study showed that they received wages in cash for all operations except harvest and post harvest operations. They worked for 7-8 hours a day. The women laborers had maximum unemployed days in Zaid (110.04 days) as this is the off season for agriculture in the study area. The lack of employment opportunities in agriculture during off season compelled the women laborers to seek alternative employment sources like NREGS activities, domestic work, construction works, tile making etc. The seasonal woman unemployment in agriculture has caused a severe impact on the income of laborers, family expenditure, their savings and debt position. It also caused migration of laborers to other activities and other places. The women laborers had some suggestions of their own to overcome the problem of unemployment.