JEYPORE: Shortage of farmhands has affected harvesting of rabi crop in the tribal areas of the district.According to reports, farmers particularly in Jeypore sub-division are having problem of finding farmhands for the last few years. With various government welfare schemes of subsidised food and other facilities flooding the tribal belt, as many as 60 per cent of daily labourers are reportedly skipping work. As many as 40,000 farmhands are required during harvesting and transplanting seasons. However, in the last three years the number of labourers available has come down to 15,000. Earlier small-time farmers roped in local labourers, while landlords mostly brought them from other areas. With locals in no mood to work, farmers now have to procure labourers from outside to work on their farmlands. The wait for labourers which stretches into weeks often ruins the standing crops.Taking advantage of the situation, the farmhands are allegedly exploiting the farmers by charging them as much as Rs 250 for a day’s work. This is not all, they are also demanding tiffin and lunch during work. “Besides chicken and liquor, we have to arrange for vehicles to carry them to fields,” rued Jitendra M, a farmer of Dhanpur. With no regulation in force on wages for farmhands, the farmers are forced to give into their demands.The prevailing labour problem has many give up agriculture in the region. Reports said as many as 5,000 farmers have either changed profession or leased out their lands.About 10,000 farmers residing outside Jeypore too are reportedly sold off their lands, courtesy labour problem.The Agriculture Department officials here, however, are stressing mechanisation of farm sector to reduce dependence on manpower. “The advanced farm equipment can only solve the labour problem,” said a senior district agriculture officer.
Comments
0 comment