This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers employed in Agriculture in Odisha. Whether you hire farm hands for a single harvest or work in the fields yourself, the rates below reflect what the Odisha government has notified for this scheduled employment.
Minimum wage rates for Agriculture in Odisha
| Category of worker | Per day | Per month (26 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹472 | ₹12,272 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹522 | ₹13,572 |
| Skilled | ₹572 | ₹14,872 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹622 | ₹16,172 |
Rates effective 1 April to 30 September 2026.
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.
- Crop farms and cultivated fields
- Horticulture, floriculture, and plant nurseries
- Orchards, vineyards, and plantations
- Dairy, cattle, and livestock farms
- Poultry and hatchery units
- Seed farms and agricultural research or demonstration plots
- On-farm cold storage, grading, and packing yards
Typical roles and skill categories
- Field labourer or farm hand
- Ploughman and tractor operator
- Sower and transplanter
- Harvester and crop picker
- Irrigation attendant or pump operator
- Sprayer of fertilisers and pesticides
- Dairy or cattle attendant
- Nursery gardener or mali
- Farm supervisor or agricultural overseer
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 Odisha 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 Odisha are required to pay at least the notified minimum for the relevant category.
How Odisha sets minimum wages
Odisha's Labour Directorate publishes one schedule for the entire state, without geographical zones, listing four categories of worker. Both a per-day rate and a per-month rate on 26 days are given, and the current figures hold for the half-year from 1 April to 30 September 2026. The state revises through periodic notification rather than a variable dearness allowance.
Common questions
What is the current minimum wage for Agriculture in Odisha?
In Odisha, the minimum wage for Agriculture currently runs from about ₹472 to ₹622 per day and ₹12272 to ₹16172 per month, 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 Odisha?
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 Odisha 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 Odisha schedule since coverage can vary.
Can wages differ within Odisha for the same agricultural role?
Yes, because the Odisha 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.
Never underpay in Odisha
ZeniaHR maps every worker to the correct minimum-wage notification by state, skill and zone, and flags anyone paid below it.
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