Labor-Saving Farm Technology in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal has faced agricultural labor shortages in recent years. The resulting high demand for agricultural labor can induce higher fertility since households desire more children to work on the farm. The importance of relaxing the agricultural labor shortage grows as more and more young men are migrating out from rural areas. To address this issue, application of labor time-saving technology is crucial. However, the application of machines is still low in Nepal, especially in hilly and mountain regions. New empirical research from the Western Chitwan Valley of Nepal supports the labor-substitution hypothesis. The use of modern farm technology,which is designed to reduce labor-intensive work, reduces the labor demand. Therefore, it discourages birth in farming households. This policy brief highlights the importance of providing more programs to support agricultural mechanization in Nepal. This work is part of the ‘Labor Outmigration, Agricultural Productivity and Food Security’ project