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Minimum wages · Jharkhand

Minimum Wage for Agriculture in Jharkhand (Latest Rates)

In forceEffective 1 April to 30 September 2026

In short: In Jharkhand, the minimum wage for Agriculture currently runs from about ₹467 to ₹821 per day, depending on skill category and zone, effective 1 April to 30 September 2026. The exact figure by category is in the table below.

This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers employed in Agriculture in Jharkhand. Whether you hire farm hands for a single harvest or work in the fields yourself, the rates below reflect what the Jharkhand government has notified for this scheduled employment.

Minimum wage rates for Agriculture in Jharkhand

Skill categoryArea A / dayArea B / dayArea C / day
Unskilled₹515₹491₹467
Semi-skilled₹540₹515₹491
Skilled₹712₹679₹647
Highly-skilled₹821₹783₹746

Rates effective 1 April to 30 September 2026.

How to read this: these are Jharkhand's minimum wage rates by skill category as most recently notified. Where Jharkhand notifies a separate schedule specifically for Agriculture, that schedule prevails. Confirm the current figure against the latest official notification before you rely on it.

What counts as Agriculture

Agriculture as a scheduled employment covers work involved in the cultivation of land and the raising of crops, along with allied farm operations such as horticulture, floriculture, farm-based dairy and cattle rearing, poultry, and the harvesting, grading, and storage of produce. It applies to manual and machine-assisted work carried out on farms, orchards, plantations, and nurseries rather than to downstream food processing in factories.

Typical roles and skill categories

In Agriculture, unskilled work usually covers general field hands, weeders, and load carriers; semi-skilled covers irrigation attendants, sprayers, and dairy or poultry handlers; skilled covers tractor and pump operators, grafters, and nursery gardeners. Highly skilled typically covers roles such as farm-machinery mechanics and supervisors who plan and oversee agricultural operations.

Who fixes this wage

Agriculture is a notified scheduled employment for which the Jharkhand government fixes minimum wages by skill category, and in many cases by zone or region, so the rate that applies depends on the worker's skill grade and the location of the farm. Employers engaging agricultural workers in Jharkhand are required to pay at least the notified minimum for the relevant category.

How Jharkhand sets minimum wages

Jharkhand's Department of Labour arranges its rates across three areas, marked A, B and C, and quotes a daily figure for each skill category in every area. Only per-day rates appear, with no monthly column, and four skill grades are listed. The wages are linked to a variable dearness allowance, the current revision effective for the half-year from 1 April to 30 September 2026.

Common questions

What is the current minimum wage for Agriculture in Jharkhand?

In Jharkhand, the minimum wage for Agriculture currently runs from about ₹467 to ₹821 per day, depending on skill category and zone, effective 1 April to 30 September 2026. The exact figure by category is in the table below. Confirm the exact rate for your worker's skill category and zone in the table above, and against the latest official notification.

Does the Agriculture minimum wage apply to seasonal and daily-wage farm workers in Jharkhand?

Yes, the notified rates cover workers engaged in agricultural operations whether they are hired on a daily basis, for a season, or for a full crop cycle, as long as the work falls within this scheduled employment.

Are allied activities like dairy, poultry, and horticulture treated as part of Agriculture?

In most Jharkhand notifications, allied farm operations such as horticulture, floriculture, dairy tending, and poultry are read together with crop cultivation, but employers should confirm the exact scope of the applicable Jharkhand schedule since coverage can vary.

Can wages differ within Jharkhand for the same agricultural role?

Yes, because the Jharkhand government often fixes rates by zone or region in addition to skill grade, the same role can carry a different minimum wage depending on where the farm is located.

Source. Government of Jharkhand, Department of Labour, VDA notification dated 25 May 2026, effective 1 April to 30 September 2026. Verified across compliance sources (accessed August 2026). Rates restated in our own words from the official notification; nothing is copied. Verify at your state labour department portal and labour.gov.in.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Minimum wages are revised periodically (often through a variable dearness allowance) and vary by skill, zone and scheduled employment. Confirm the current figure against the latest official notification on your state labour department portal or labour.gov.in before you act.
Author: ZeniaHR Editorial Team. Last verified against the source notification: 20 September 2026.

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