Hariprasad Nandalike
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)
Karkala, Jun 21: When farmers are going away from cultivation these days, setting an example, 22 women from Gangavati here planted paddy saplings in fields belonging to Sankal Kariya resident Sudhakar Salian covering an area of four acres in a day.
Scarcity of labour is an impediment for agricultural activities in the recent past. But there is no scarcity of labour here. Sudhakar Salian and the women have shown that anything can be achieved if there is a will.
Shivamogga based Malathesh brought 50 workers from Gangavati to provide them to local farmers on contract and complete cultivation. Malathesh charges Rs 4,000 per acre for the work. It has become a boon for local farmers. The workers have enabled revival of agricultural sector that was facing acute scarcity of labour. Local workers are hard to find. Even if somebody gets workers, the progress of work in such speed is difficult.
Water is scarce at Tungabhadra, Gangavati dam. The women working in fields lament that they do not have employment at their hometown. Even if they find work at home, the wages of Rs 120 is too less for their living.
Once they begin the work, they do not rest until the work is completed. The team arranges meals, tea and other facilities on their own. There are some male workers among them who are also quick in work. Their speedy work has surprised the local workers.
Model farmer Sudhakar Salian
While young people are engrossed in mobile, computer, and social media, Sudhakar mingles with workers in the slushy paddy fields. He has become a model for youth. He was in news for cultivating 15 acres of paddy fields with a few acres belonging to others last year. He had sown through tractors, harvested through machines and earned huge profit.
“Only one time cultivation is possible in our hometown per year. There is no dam and wages also are too low. Agricultural activities are more here. Therefore, we get the cultivation done on contract basis,” said Nagaraj, a worker from Gangavati.
“It is wrong to say that there is no profit from cultivation. The workers from Gangavati working here on lightning speed have given a new dimension to agricultural activities,” said Sudhakar Salian.