The study was conducted in purposively selected three villages namely, Aturi, Kamaria and Kumun of sadar Upazila under Gazipur district. Then twenty Boro rice growing farmers from each of the village were selected randomly. Thus, the total sample size was 60. Data were collected using pre-designed questionnaire following face to face interview method. After collection of data, necessary editing was done. Multivariate statistical technique was employed in analyzing data.
The supply of labour was estimated by the following function:
SLBR = f (OWNL, TECH, FSZ, WRKR, FEM, EDCN, LVNG, VWAGE)
Where,
SLBR = Average weekly hours of labour put in by household,
OWNL = Amount of land owned by household (in acres),
TECH = Amount of land cultivated with MVs (in acres),
FSZ = Number of members in household,
WRKR = Number of family workers in household,
FEM = Numbers of female workers in household,
EDCN = Educational level of head of household (completed years of schooling),
LVNG = Standard of leaving in the village as measured by per capita consumption expenditure, and
VWAGE = Wage rate estimated at the village level (in taka per day)
And the demand for hired labour was estimated with the following function:
DLBR = f (LAND, TECH, WRKR, TNC, VWAGE)
Where,
DLBR = Number of labour days hired from outside the household in the crop production accurately,
LAND = Total cropped area (in acre),
TECH = Area devoted to cultivation of MVs (in acres)
WRKR = Number of family workers in household,
TNC = Total cropped area under tenancy (in acre),
VWAGE = Wage rate estimated at the village level (in taka per day)
Increasing the number of family member is likely to supply additional labour to satisfy the consumption needs of a larger number of dependents. The larger the amount of land owned by the household, the smaller is the supply of labour. But the positive income effect of land ownership reduces the supply of labour force. The higher-income effect of education and the higher social status of the educated worker reduce the supply of labour in agriculture. Village wage rate has positive significant impact on the family labour supply. The wage rate has positively affected the supply of labour. The higher the standard of living in the villages, the smaller is the supply of labour by its households. Diffusion of the modern technology would increase the supply of labour. Technological progress creates opportunities for more employment in agriculture