In most Indian villages, agriculture is the main source of livelihood, but it heavily depends on seasons and weather conditions. This creates what is known as seasonal employment, where people have work only during certain times of the year.
During sowing, planting, and harvesting seasons, there is a high demand for labourers. Farmers, daily wage workers, and agricultural helpers all find temporary jobs in these busy months. However, once the crops are harvested and the fields are left fallow, most rural workers become jobless for the rest of the year.
This pattern leads to periods of unemployment and income instability, especially for small and marginal farmers. Many rural workers are then forced to migrate to cities in search of other jobs, often taking up low-paying or informal work.
Seasonal employment also affects rural women, who usually find work during peak agricultural activities but are unemployed in off-seasons, limiting their financial independence.
To reduce this problem, the government has introduced programs like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), which provides at least 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households. Yet, more non-farm opportunities, rural industries, and skill-based jobs are needed to ensure year-round employment in villages.
Seasonal employment reflects the fragile nature of rural livelihoods, where dependence on agriculture causes large gaps in work availability and income throughout the year.