Drought Cuts Cotton Yields, Women Workers Face Wage Slashes
In Yavatmal, women cotton pickers are struggling with reduced yields and half wages due to severe drought conditions.
Cotton yields have plummeted to just four or five bolls per plant.
Women workers are earning only Rs 250 to Rs 300 daily, down from Rs 700.
Farmers and laborers are calling for government intervention to create more job opportunities.
In Wagad Izara village, located in Yavatmal district, the ongoing drought has severely impacted cotton yields, forcing women workers like 40-year-old Manda Jadhav to earn significantly less than usual. Traditionally, these workers could earn up to Rs 700 a day by picking cotton, but this year, many are struggling to make even Rs 300 as they sift through fields with drastically reduced harvests.
The cotton-picking season, which typically lasts until March, has begun with alarming reports of only four to five bolls per plant due to the drought. Farmers in the region have expressed concerns about the sustainability of their crops, and many laborers are left with little to no work. Manda Jadhav noted that she has only found work for three days this season, highlighting the dire situation for those reliant on this income.
Laborers are now willing to accept fixed daily wages instead of the traditional piece-rate system, which is a stark shift from previous years. The reduced availability of cotton has forced many to take whatever work they can find, further exacerbating their financial struggles. Vandana Rathore, another worker, lamented the lack of work not just in her fields but also on neighboring farms, emphasizing the widespread impact of the poor harvest.
The situation has raised alarms among experts, who warn that landless laborers are becoming increasingly dependent on microfinance institutions (MFIs) for financial support. With employment opportunities dwindling, many workers are finding it difficult to repay loans, leading to the presence of musclemen in villages for loan recovery. Activists like Kishore Tiwari have called for urgent government action to address the employment crisis, stressing the need for more jobs under the employment guarantee scheme.
In response to these challenges, an official from the G-RAM-G office stated that over 75,000 worksites are currently employing 2.53 lakh rural workers. However, the official acknowledged that work has not been suspended during the farming season, contrary to the provisions of the original employment scheme, indicating a need for better implementation and support for affected workers.
