Karnataka farmerKarnataka farms face a labor scarcity; poll incentives are to blame
Karnataka may be in the midst of an agricultural labor crisis as a result of the Congress’s election giveaways, which are held responsible for some skilled workers choosing to live on the dole or making new demands like higher minimum salaries, more perks, and shorter workdays.
Out of the 30 lakh farm workers, 5 lakh or so work o coffee plantations, which are already short on experienced laborers qualified for perks like 10 kg of free rice, Rs 2,000 per month for every woman who is the household head, free bus tickets for women, and 200 units of electricity.
Former vice-chairman of the Coffee Board of India, Bose Mandanna N, attributed the unexpected labor shortage on “a lot of freebies.” This has an effect on estates. Running a plantation business will be difficult if this keeps up, he told TOI from the Kodagu district. Coffee grower Sri Gowra from Chikkamagaluru claimed that the business was already facing a labor shortage when the introduction of freebies exacerbated the problem.
