Estimating the Wage Elasticity of Off-Farm Labour Supply of Farmers in Kemubu, Kelantan

Abstract

Off-farm labour supply is very important in the transformation of agricultural economies to industrial economies. Two econometric models were used to estimate the wage elasticity of off-farm labour supply in Kemubu, Kelantan, Malaysia. A wage elasticity of approximately 2.0 was obtained from both models. The study revealed that severe poverty exist in single-cropped areas outside Kemubu. Farm households are more pressed for time with off-farm employment in double-cropped areas inside Kemubu. The twin-strategies of intensifying paddy cultivation and creating off-farm employment opportunities can be carried out concurrently. To induce farmers to seek off-farm employ­ment to augment farm incomes, off-farm employment opportunities should be created close to farm households and development policies should aim at im­proving the level of educational and vocational skills of farmers

    Similar works