Vulnerable Employment among Rural Youth in Karnataka State: A Study of Sustainable Livelihood Capitals
H. Gunashekhar *
ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Southern Regional Station, Bengaluru, India.
M. Sreenivasulu
Electronic Wing, Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Hyderabad, India.
B. Manjunatha
The Graduate School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Dayananda Patil
ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Southern Regional Station, Bengaluru, India.
S. Manju Prem
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, India.
G. N. Damodhara
University of Mysore, Mysore, India.
N. R. Kiran
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India.
Priyanka B N
ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Southern Regional Station, Bengaluru, India.
Harishkumar J.
Silkworm Seed Production Centre, Berhampore, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Agriculture in India sustains over half the population, faces a critical challenge as its youth disengage from this sector due to low incomes and high risks, which impedes agricultural reform and competitiveness in the global food market. In 2021, a study was conducted in Karnataka's Mandya and Ramanagara districts, focusing on assessing the vulnerable employment among 120 randomly selected rural youth in agriculture through constructing a vulnerable employment index. The study revealed that the overall composite vulnerable employment index was 0.63, with human capital being the highest contributor to vulnerable employment (0.80), followed by financial capital (0.78), physical capital (0.68), natural capital (0.63), and social capital (0.57). Notably, 67.50 per cent of surveyed youth face moderate to highly vulnerable employment, primarily due to deficiencies in human capital (72.50%), financial capital (72.50%), natural capital (79.16%), and social capital (77.50%). However, there is a glimmer of hope in the relatively lower vulnerability in physical capital (48.33%). This research highlighted the urgent need to address vulnerable employment among rural youth in agricultural endeavour by investing in relevant skills training and education, providing access to financial resources, ensuring sustainable management of natural capital, and fostering strong social capital through mentorship programs and community engagement.
Keywords: Livelihood capitals, skills, sustainable agriculture, rural youth, vulnerable employment