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The economic condition of agricultural labourers is critically influenced by agricultural growth and production conditions. A village economy in developing world is influenced by endogenous growth impulses arising from its agro-climatic characteristics, location and advances in farm technology. The present investigation illustrates in a microcosm, the recurrent theme of India´´s agriculture related development that technological advancement and resultant growth does not guarantee equitable distribution. There are myriad factors which form the basis of growth in specific regions. The quality of work available and earnings, both in the farm and non-farm sectors are influenced by a gamut of issues that have a bearing especially on the vulnerable sections of the rural labour force. Micro level analysis at sub-district level was done to identify features of employment availability and the material condition of hired agricultural labourers. Villages in Anand and Patan districts of Gujarat, belonging to two different agro-economic locales have been the subject of enquiry.

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Dr. Niti Mehta is Professor at the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic & Social Research (SPIESR), Ahmedabad, India. Her areas of interest are regional development, agrarian transformation, labour, employment and poverty issues. She has published several research papers in journals and books on these subjects.

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