Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Rahul Prasad R, Krishnamurthy AT, Mallikarjuna HB, Raghuprasad KP and Prem Kishor SN

Abstract:
Migration, as a worldwide event, is as old as civilization and development. The present study examined the factors influencing migration of labourers to Coffee plantations in Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts of Karnataka state during 2020-21. A total of 140 samples, 70 from each districts were selected by following simple random sampling technique. The factors influencing migration were classified into push (7) and pull (7) factors. In order to prioritize push and pull factors, Garrett ranking technique was employed. The study indicated that lack of employment opportunities in hometown as the major push factor with highest Garrett mean score of 78.00 (I rank) followed by lower earnings at hometown (II rank with mean score 60.85), poor economic conditions (III rank), indebtedness (IV rank), lack of basic amenities in the native place (V rank), small landholdings/landlessness (VI rank) and drought/famine/crop failure (VII) were considered as important push factors. Among the pull factors, availability of ample work opportunities in coffee plantation was considered as the most important with Garrett mean score of 78.00 (I rank). The purpose of family well-being with mean score of 66.00 (II rank), higher wages compared to native (III rank), better health care services and living conditions (IV rank), better opportunities for children’s education (V rank), higher social status (VI rank) and better opportunities for marriage (VII rank) were in order of importance among the pull factors. The majority of migrant labourers believe that having appropriate job opportunities in their native places throughout the year (77.85%) and almost three-quarters of them suggested that wage rates should be raised (73.57%) were some of the key suggestions made by the migrant labourers to mitigate the migration.