ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the issues related to labour shortage from the perspective of small growers and identify the coping mechanisms or strategies adopted by them to overcome such problems and its implications on workers. It focuses at issues from a medium- to long-term perspective in addressing sustainability of coffee cultivation in the region. The chapter focuses on the field data gathered during 200910 and also group discussions and individual discussions held with stakeholders during the past two years, including the latest round of stakeholder discussions held during October 2012January 2013. One important factor attributed to labour shortage is the panic behaviour of planters. Discussions with planters in Kodagu district are illustrative of the sentiment of the planters on the issue of rising labour costs. Implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGA) has rather created more job opportunities outside the plantation sector, especially in inf.
