Livelihood Security and Agricultural Labourers: Evidence from Rural Karnataka

The study described the necessities and livelihood of the ‘Nandihalli’ village. According to the survey, a clear distribution of family sizes within the study area population shows a higher prevalence of smaller families; Small landholdings are the most common among families, while a notable portion of families do not own any land. The largest group of families is primarily engaged in agriculture, the second largest group works for agricultural wages, and the village has access to tap water, which is likely the most convenient and perhaps the most reliable source of water. Understanding the distribution of water sources can help plan for infrastructure improvement and ensure reliable water supply to all homes. Traditional methods are dominant; there is a presence of mechanisation and a variety of other methods for agricultural ploughing in the village. Tubewells are the predominant source of irrigation, reflecting a reliance on groundwater resources. The variability in road quality for agricultural land access highlights a significant portion of respondents dealing with suboptimal or very poor road conditions, and weed spraying in the surveyed families, indicating a strong focus on weed control. The use of artificial sowing machines also highlights the trend towards mechanisation in agriculture.