Savinya Gowda and her husband, Suresh Gowda, of Kartoji near Madenadu worked as daily wagers in coffee plantations. This was the only way for the couple, who have two school-going children, to make ends meet as they only have one-and-a-half acres of their own coffee farm.
The heavy rains, floods and landslips last month have pushed many such small farming families in Madenadu and the surrounding villages into distress now.
They have lost the standing crop and the plants after the rains. They are also not getting daily work in the neighbouring large coffee plantations either.
“We were supposed to harvest the standing Arabica and Robusta varieties of coffee in December and January. Nothing is left now as the beans have dropped,” Ms. Savinya told The Hindu .
Rajanna Gowda, a small farmer and tea seller at Kartoji, said that four villages in the region had about 150 families owning land between one-and-a-half and six acres. Many also worked as daily wagers.
Ms. Savinya said that many small farmers would get at least 10 bags (50 kg each) of coffee from two harvests. “Now we might get half a bag to one bag.”
According to Mr. Rajanna, earlier daily wagers would get at least ₹325 a day. Now some of them are being invited for re-construction and other works in coffee plantations with daily wages of ₹200. On the Mangaluru-Madikeri-Mysuru national highway between Madikeri and Sullia in Dakshina Kannada, properties have been damaged particularly on a 14-km stretch between Madikeri town and Jodupala.
Mr. Rajanna also began selling tea and snacks by the side of the highway at Kartoji a year ago by availing loan from his self-help group (SHG). He used to earn ₹4,000 daily , but since 10 days ago when he reopened the shop he has been earning about ₹500 a day. The highway damaged by rain was opened only for light motor vehicles.
Yet to return home
Many poor families in Madenadu, I Monnangeri, II Monnangeri and Jodupala villages are yet to return to their homes as they are not sure of getting daily work in plantations and other places.
Hence, many are still in a relief camp in Madikeri town. Houses of some have developed cracks. They are not in a position to take up repair works due to financial crunch. Livelihood sources of many have been cut, they said.
