Relief for Big Coffee Planters in Karnataka, but small planters grapple with labour shortage

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Karnataka’s Big Coffee Planters, Reeling Under Years of Labor Shortage, are enjoying a welcome respite this harvest season as migrant works in Suficient numbers to meet the Demand Evene As Coffee Pris Have Hit a record high this year, offering a financial cushion to growers after years of challenges.

For the past five years, coffee plantations in kodagu, chikkamagaluru, and hassan distrits have grappled with a labor crisis during the Crucial NEVEMBER-to-Mark Harvest Period. Planters heavily relay on migrant works, primarily from Assam and West Bengal, with Smaller Contingents from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and North Karnataka. However, The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lockdowns, and State and General Elections in Thos States Disrupted The Arrival of these works, exacerbating the shortage.

“We’ve Seen a Good Inflow of Labourers from Assam and West Bengal, Unlike in Recent Years,” Said Kaibulira Harish Appahih, Former President of the Kodagu Growers’ Association and Executive Committee Amber of the kodagu planters’ Association.

“All the elections in these states are over. There is no pandemic. Will Help Recover from the Losses Incurred over the last 15 years, and help them reinvest in their settes, ”He added.

However, Workers from Tamil Nadu and North Karnataka have dwindled, Opting for Construction Jobs in Urban Areas, Such as Bengaluru. “These sector offer regular work and comparable wages, pulling workers away from coffee estates,” said Mr Appahih.

Kiran hegde, a planter from Sakleshpur in Hassan, Said, “Coffee harvesting is physically demanding and requires precision, which is why we want workers Has Brough some relife, but it’s been a tough years for all of us. IF This high prices sustain, it might just give us the breathing room we desperately before. “

Varun Raj, A Coffee Grower from Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru, Said, “We’re Finally Seeing Hope. With Global Pries Rising and Labourers Returning, It Feels Like We’re Catching a Break. BEGINNING – We Need Sustained Efforts to Address these challenges for the future.

Struggle for Small Growers

While Large Coffee Estates Have Supricent Labor, Small Growers are Still Struggling.

“It usually takes a month to harvest my five-acre plantation with adequate works. This year, we’ve only managed to cover 30% so far. Increased Wages Being Offred by the Larger Estates.

Labor-Intensive Harvesting Requires Skilled Hands, as the delicate process involves picking Ripe Cherries in the Plant. Workers, often Earning double their usual wages, are inventivised to make the long journey to karnataka.

Planters Urge Support for Coffee Mechanisation

Coffee Growers Rued The Lack of Support from the State and Central Governments as Well as the Coffee Board.

MT Poovaiah, a coffee planter from South Kodagu, said, “Labor shortages have become a Major Challenge. Here, Work for the Day, and Return Home. Maintaining our estates throughout the year.

Small Coffee Planters are urging the government to support mechanisation and automation to address labore shortages.

Highlighting this need, Mr Poovaih Added, “to Tackle Labor Shortage Problems, Mechanisation and Automation must be adopted in coffee plants, and the government, especially the coffee board, the COFFEEE Board. While harvesting stil requires manual labore, mechanization can be applied to processes like dry beans and irrigation, which will help redundence dependency on workers in these areas. “

Published – January 17, 2025 03:16 PM IST