Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 6: Harvesting of paddy is in full swing in the coast as Deepavali festival is drawing near. As most of the paddy is ready for harvest together, there is a high demand for harvesting machines.

Over 11,247 hectares of land in Dakshina Kannada district and 35,756 hectares in Udupi district are under paddy cultivation. As there is a shortage of labourers, the people are heavily dependent on the machines. As the department of agriculture has only a limited number of machines, people are compelled to hire private machines.

Private machines have come from other states and districts. The farmers are making a beeline for these machines. Owners of the machines and middlemen are making money by demanding higher rent. Even the department is unable to control this problem.

The department of agriculture has eight machines in Udupi and seven in Dakshina Kannada. Therefore these machines cannot serve all the farmers. Many harvesters owned privately have come here from places like Tamil Nadu, Davanagere, Raichur etc. While the agricultural department charges Rs 1,800 per hour plus transportation cost, the private owners charge between Rs 2,400 and 2,600 per hour. The middlemen capitalise on the shortage of machines and demand more charges from the farmers. They contact owners of private machines, seek commission and load that money on the rent charged to farmers.

Deputy director of agriculture, Udupi, Kempe Gowda, said that 15 machines with the department cannot meet the demand of all the farmers. He feels that farmers can come together and harvest their crops together and fix lower rates for the machines owned privately.