The Hindu : Kerala News : SHGs to the rescue of pepper farmers

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Kerala

SHGs to the rescue of pepper farmers

A Correspondent

Severe shortage of male labourers

KATTAPPANA: Medium and small-scale pepper farmers in areas bordering Tamil Nadu have enlisted the services of self-help groups formed by women to pluck the yield in the wake of a severe shortage of male labourers. Still, pepper in thousands of acres remains unplucked. The farmers are also finding it difficult to dry the harvested yield due to the spell of unseasonal rain.

Labour union leaders said the shortage of male labourers was severe during this season. They attributed it to large-scale migration of labourers to towns in search of better wages. “The average wage per day for plucking pepper is between Rs.125 and Rs.150, while in the construction field it is double the amount,” said a local labour union leader.

And with the migration of Tamil labourers who were working in the crisis-hit tea estates, the situation has aggravated.

Unlike tea and coffee, there is no large-scale pepper cultivation in the district. Small- and medium-level farmers with below 10 acres of land used to hire the services of seasonal labourers to pluck the yield, which was considered exclusively a male job.

“One should be physically fit enough to stand the ladder for hours. Besides, low wages has led to apathy among labourers towards plucking the yield,” said Jojo Antony, a pepper farmer.

The Anugraha Swayasraya Sanghom at Anyartholu was the first to employ women self-help groups. The initiative was received with scepticism when it initially began with 25 members. However, the venture has proved successful and the group is actively helping farmers. It provides them additional income.

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