A study on factors influencing livelihood security among agricultural labourers in rainfed situation of Karnataka

Abstract

Agricultural labourers constitute by far largest segment in unorganized sector. Impacts of government have not adequately protected agricultural laborers interests. This research has been conducted with objectives of assessing livelihood security status of agricultural labourers in a rainfed situation, determining the extent to which independent variables influence the livelihood security status of agricultural labourers, and identifying factors that discriminate between those with different livelihood security statuses. R2 value showed that all 29 independent variables had contributed to tune of 83.70% of variation in livelihood security. Statistic value Mahalnobis ‘D2’ and ‘F’ ratio calculated has been 46.57 and 31.83, respectively. ‘F’ ratio is highly significant (p < 0.01). That percentage ranking of distance measured by important variables indicated that first 9 ranks including of self confidence (43.54%), determination in work situation (21.47%), management orientation (10.97%), land holding (7.03%), training received (6.98%), farming system practiced (3.97%), indebtedness (3.87%), dependency ratio (1.63%), and savings (1.02%) has been identified as primary contributors to discriminating agricultural laborers with low and high livelihood security levels compared to other variables.