Impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on Paddy Cultivation in Palakkad District of Kerala

Abstract

The study was undertaken to assess the impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on paddy cultivation and the constraints faced by the farmers due to  the implementation of this scheme in Palakkad district of Kerala. A sample of 120 paddy farmers from  Kuzhalmannom Block was randomly selected for the study. The study revealed that the most important  impact of the scheme as perceived by the paddy farmers was increase in water availability for irrigation.  As for the constraints faced by the paddy farmers due to MGNREGS, increased wage rate of labourers  was ranked first followed by non-availability of labourers during peak season and decreased productivity  of labour.