Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part K (2025)

Technological progress plays a crucial role in transforming agricultural productivity and labour dynamics. This study examines the effect of technological change on labour utilization in the agricultural sector of Karnataka. Based on secondary data from 2000 to 2024, the analysis highlights the shift from labour-intensive traditional farming to skill-intensive mechanized production systems. While mechanization has reduced the demand for manual labour during peak seasons, it has simultaneously created new employment opportunities in machinery operation, custom hiring services, farm advisory, processing and marketing. The study argues that agricultural development in Karnataka depends not only on technology adoption but also on labour transition through skill upgrading, market linkages and diversification into non-farm agricultural enterprises. This study also analyses the patterns of mechanization, labour displacement, and the emergence of skilled labour in Tumakuru district. Findings show that mechanization has reduced manual labour by nearly 40–45% while creating new employment opportunities in machinery operation, micro-irrigation management, drone-based spraying, nursery management, and digital farm advisory services.