Kullu growers head to Nepal to get labourers for picking apples
Suresh Sharma, TNN | Jul 25, 2013, 04.41 AM IST
MANALI: Search for labourers, one of the most difficult jobs, is forcing growers to visit Nepal to bring Nepalese labourers to Kullu to start apple harvesting season. However, the search has of late turned out to be a nightmare for apple growers here.
Along with wages of Rs 400 to Rs 500 per day for working in orchards, the labourers also demand meals, loading and transportation charges. While the owner has no right to shout at labourers, the labourers have a long list of terms and conditions for working in orchards, which has become acceptable to the helpless orchardists now. Feeding non-vegetarian food, along with liquor, every second or third day has turned out to be the best way to prevent labourers from leaving work or shifting to other generous owners, sources said.
"Searching for gold is easier than getting labourers to work in apple season," said a prominent apple grower from Kharahal, Vimal Shama, who is busy collecting workers from Nepal. "I've sent a trusted Nepali there with cash to bring me at least 15 labourers to work in apple orchards. I did so last year also. We have no option."
With apple season in Kullu district picking up pace, workers from Nepal are the most trusted for executing works in orchards, including harvesting, carriage, packaging and loading of boxes. Labourers fromBihar, Jharkhand, UP and other states have no idea of this trade and they stay away from the orchards. Thus Nepalese are the only hope for apple growers, sources pointed out.
Rajesh Sharma, another fruit grower from Jagatsukh village, said, "We have become so dependent on Nepalese that we have forgotten executing works ourselves. Now that we are facing shortage of labourers, we are again trying to become self dependent. But finishing all works, especially carriage, is not possible in a short period. This is the reason why we are fulfilling all demands and paying them huge wages." Like him, many of his neighbours have also sought labourers from Nepal, especially for apple season, Sharma said.
As most orchards in Kullu are not connected with roads, carrying apples on the back is the only solution. Nepalese, who are skilled in this job, now prefer working with hydel projects, which pay them better wages. Also, Nepalese workers are moving to Ladakh region, where they get almost double the wages.
Ele Ram of Nau village, who had left his job in a reputed company, as there was nobody to take care of his orchards, said, "My wife is not able to handle all works like earlier years when labourers were easily available. Monkeys are a menace in apple orchards and we need permanent caretakers to guard the plants. Sacrificing my job was the only option," he said.
Sources said that non-availability of labourers is forcing illiterate apple growers to lease out their orchards on contract basis to avoid the problem of finding labourers, who are now seeking guaranteed full day wage even if there is no work to do
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