The recent pre-monsoon showers and the central government’s decision to revise the minimum support price of paddy by Rs 50 have failed to bring cheer to Punjab growers, as they face an acute shortage of labourers.
Paddy transplantation in the state began at a slow pace on June 10, as fewer labourers arrived from states like Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the rising cost of agro-chemicals and of diesel to extract underground water with pumps has hit their bottom line.
The arrival of migrant labourers in Punjab has diluted in the past three years due to various reasons. The implementation of infrastructure projects in different parts of the country have provided an alternative employment opportunity to them in their own states. Besides, the central government’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme have also ensured a 100-day employment opportunity. This means they have an option to work in their own land.
Earlier, the farmers used to pay Rs 700-Rs 800 an acre to the transplantation labourers. Now they are offering up to Rs 2,000 an acre, besides shelter facilities, to ensure timely completion of sowing.
Kuldip Singh, a paddy farmer of Sangrur, says he will sow corn if he does not get labourers before the sowing period is over.
Sources in the Punjab agricultural department have confirmed the impact of scarce labourers on paddy transplantation. A senior official in the department added that in order to cope with the falling number of migrant labourers, the state plans to introduce paddy transplanters at a subsidised rate.
This initiative has got lukewarm response so far. Officials in the Punjab Farmers’ Commission, the agency which approves the applications of paddy transplanters, said the transplanters were available at Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 9 lakh. A subsidy of Rs 1 lakh was also offered on all categories of transplanters, they added.
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The Commission has set a target of supplying 200 paddy transplanters, and may promote it through cooperative societies.
However, this initiative may not materialise, as the firms supposed to provide the transplanters do not have enough supplies.
Jagtar Singh Mehma of Mehma Berjae village near Bathinda said paddy transplantation through a machine requires specialised training to farmers to prepare nurseries, and the extension services provided by the department were inadequate.
Landlords who bought the paddy transplanters are charging up to Rs 3,000 an acre to lease their machines and needy farmers are paying through their nose.