The labour shortage in the foodbasket of India is likely to persist in the coming kharif season. The labour intensive rice production may be hit hard in the states like Punjab and Haryana.
The labour shortage badly affected wheat lifting operations in the just concluded rabi season. Farmers' organisation like Bharti Kisan Union and the state government's agriculture department are now anticipating its adverse impact on paddy sowing and transplanting season.
According to BKU President Ajmer Singh Lakhowal the way the labour shortage is being experienced by the farmers, it is certain that it would hit the paddy transplantation in Punjab, which could result in reduction of paddy sowing area.
Reports say that the paddy transplantation in Punjab is scheduled to start from June 10 after the state government asked the farmers to avoid paddy sowing before the month of June in view of declining water table in the state.
Source: www.bihartimes.com, Shortage of Bihari labourers in Punjab to hit kharif crops
