AGRICULTURE LABOUR MANEGEMENT SYSTEM IN APATANI / APA TANII

Abstract

Apatanis traditional economy is fully depends on agriculture works. The Apatani practice intensive wet rice cultivation manually without the help of modern tools and traction. For the operation of Apa Tanii agricultural works needs a group labour. It is done through Patang. Every Apatani tries to owe suitable land for rice cultivation as rice is their staple food. It is not an easy task to cultivate the land manually, that too in a limited cultivable land in compared to the plain area of neighbouring state. Earlier, labour was not available, except few servants who worked for their master. In this context, the Apatani felt the necessity of cooperative work. Hence, they formed the group called ‘Patang’. It is a peer group which constitute for the purpose of labour exchange related to agricultural work. The work of the Patang is reciprocating service among the members. The wage of the Patang labour is only a day meal and rice wine or tea and expected the same service from the members. The Patang system is not affected by modern market forces. It is still prevailing among the Apa Taniis for the purpose of agricultural work. The paper is based on participant observation.