A micro analysis of labour use in agriculture in Wargabinangun Village, West Java, Indonesia
Date
1983
Authors
Benyamin, I. Made
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Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the balance between labour
demand and labour supply. The surplus or shortage of labour among a
sub-sample of land operating farmers in Wargabinangun Village, West
Java, Indonesia is specifically investigated. The study also observes
the influence of the demographic factor upon the behaviour of farmers
in utilizing labour and farm land.
The Cross-sectional data used in this study were collected by
the Agro Economic Survey (AES) Bogor, and cover the utilization of
labour in agricultural and non-agricultural activities, sources and
levels of income, and socio-demographic aspects of the farmers
sampled. The data cover the 1979 dry season, together with the
1978/1979 wet season for certain elements only (e.g. income from trade
sources, hired-out labour and husbandry).
The empirical analysis of this study is based on two main
theories: (1) the Labour Utilization Approach (Yotopoulos, 1967 and
Yotopoulos and Nugent, 1976), (2) the Demographic Differentiation
Approach (Chayanov 1966). The first theory gives a method of
measuring the surplus or shortage of labour among the farmers of the
sub-sample, whilst the second theory examines labour use relationships
pertaining to family structure. In the examination here the Adult Man
Equivalent Production Units (AEPU) and the Consumer/producer ratios
(CPR) of families are related to the total area of land operated, and
to the utilization of farm household labour in economic activities.
In general, it is found that a labour surplus tends to occur
among farmers who cultivate less than 0.5 ha while a labour shortage
occurs among those who cultivate 1 ha or more. There are
statistically significant differences amongst farmers, grouped according to <0.5 ha, 0.5-1.0 ha and >1.0 ha of farm land operated.
The less land farmers cultivate, and the less non-agricultural income
they earn, the larger their surplus of labour. It is found that one
out of ten male farmers was in disguised unemployment during 1979 dry
season.
The area of farm land operated varies significantly between
different AEPU (Adult man equivalent production unit) and
(Consumer/producer ratio) groups, which supports Chayanovian
demographic differentiation theory. Viewing family economic
activities or other activities such as rice planting and hiring out of
labour, it appears that the higher labour force available in a family,
the more labour is hired out. A rather uncommon case occurs where the
the more the labour supply available to a family, the more hired-in
labour is demanded. This is due to the fact that the village we
observed is situated in a coastal area which has good irrigation with
simultaneous cultivation and harvesting systems. Families making high
average use of their labour accordingly tend to need relatively more
extra labour at peak periods.
It is hoped that the result of this study can be used in basic
planning for village development, particularly in increasing the
utilization of excess labour force in the agricultural sector. The
study also indicates directions for more accurate and reliable future
research on this topic.
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