FARMERS SUFFER LABOUR PAIN
Ludhiana June 11:
Sowing of paddy, which is a labour intensive crop, may be delayed due to acute shortage of migrant workers. The increased labour rate of Rs 1,500-2,000 per acre this year from Rs 600 last year would further add to the problem.
Sukhdev Singh of Koom Kalan village, who has been waiting for labourers, says, “No farmer in my region has been able to get labourers for sowing, which officially began today. Even the labourers, who come to our village every year, have not approached us as yet, though middlemen have assured that we will get help in a day or two.”
Gurpreet Singh, another farmer, says, “Labourers in our village are asking for Rs 1,500 per acre. It takes five to seven people to transplant paddy in one acre. This problem will hit us at the time of harvesting too.” Majority of paddy sowing in Punjab is done manually by migrant labourers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. One of the reasons for the shortage is the hike in minimum wages by the Bihar government. Besides, the recent bomb blast at Shingaar Cinema has kept them away.
Kanwaljeet Singh, a farmer from Khanna, says, “Labourers from Bihar and UP are asking for Rs 5,000 per month. And as per the government order, the entire state will begin the sowing at the same time, leading to further shortage.” “The labourers are waiting for the rates to go up to Rs 1,000 per acre. Last year, we paid them Rs 500 per acre,” says Mandeep Singh of Cheema Khurd village.
B S Sidhu, Director, Agriculture, while admitting the problem, says, “We are trying to promote the use of machines for transplanting paddy. This year, we will hold demonstration of six such machines all over the state. There are two types of machine: one is Japanese, which costs Rs 7 lakh and can transplant paddy in 10 acres in an hour, while the other costs Rs 1 lakh and can take care of about 5 acres.”
Ludhiana June 11:
Sowing of paddy, which is a labour intensive crop, may be delayed due to acute shortage of migrant workers. The increased labour rate of Rs 1,500-2,000 per acre this year from Rs 600 last year would further add to the problem.
Sukhdev Singh of Koom Kalan village, who has been waiting for labourers, says, “No farmer in my region has been able to get labourers for sowing, which officially began today. Even the labourers, who come to our village every year, have not approached us as yet, though middlemen have assured that we will get help in a day or two.”
Gurpreet Singh, another farmer, says, “Labourers in our village are asking for Rs 1,500 per acre. It takes five to seven people to transplant paddy in one acre. This problem will hit us at the time of harvesting too.” Majority of paddy sowing in Punjab is done manually by migrant labourers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. One of the reasons for the shortage is the hike in minimum wages by the Bihar government. Besides, the recent bomb blast at Shingaar Cinema has kept them away.
Kanwaljeet Singh, a farmer from Khanna, says, “Labourers from Bihar and UP are asking for Rs 5,000 per month. And as per the government order, the entire state will begin the sowing at the same time, leading to further shortage.” “The labourers are waiting for the rates to go up to Rs 1,000 per acre. Last year, we paid them Rs 500 per acre,” says Mandeep Singh of Cheema Khurd village.
B S Sidhu, Director, Agriculture, while admitting the problem, says, “We are trying to promote the use of machines for transplanting paddy. This year, we will hold demonstration of six such machines all over the state. There are two types of machine: one is Japanese, which costs Rs 7 lakh and can transplant paddy in 10 acres in an hour, while the other costs Rs 1 lakh and can take care of about 5 acres.”
