Rising Labour Wages Push Nalgonda Paddy Farmers to Direct Sowing

Nalgonda: Farmers in Nalgonda district are increasingly shifting from transplanting paddy nurseries to direct sowing of paddy seeds due to a sharp rise in agricultural labour wages.

During the current Yasangi crop season, labour wages have increased by 20 to 30 per cent compared to the last kharif season. Transplanting paddy nurseries alone now costs over ₹6,000 per acre. The daily wage of women agricultural labourers has risen to ₹800 from ₹600 last season, while male labourers, required to carry paddy nurseries to fields, are being paid ₹1,100 per day. Farmers also have to bear transportation costs for labourers. Moreover, availability of agricultural labourers for transplanting has become increasingly difficult.

As a result, farmers are favouring direct sowing of paddy seeds, which significantly reduces cultivation costs. According to estimates by the agriculture department, the area under direct sowing of paddy has increased to 1.5 lakh acres in the current Yasangi season, up from 40,000 acres in the previous kharif season.

Farmer N. Yadagiri said the increase in labour wages has substantially raised the cost of cultivation. He added that prices of fertilisers and pesticides have also gone up compared to the last crop season, leaving farmers with no option but to adopt direct sowing to reduce expenses.

District agriculture officer P. Sravan Kumar said direct sowing of paddy helps farmers save both time and money. He added that crop yield would not be affected if the method is adopted properly.