Girl Child Labour in Hybrid Cottonseed Production and Processing in Andhra Pradesh (2003) Study Commissioned by ILO/IPEC, AP

An important feature of hybrid cottonseed production is that it is highly labour intensive and children, particularly girls, are employed on a large scale in most of its operations. Large number of girl children are employed in not only cultivation of hybrid cottonseeds in farms but also in processing of these seeds which is done in seed processing factories. Seed processing includes ginning, delinting, grading and chemical treatment and packing. Grading is a labour intensive activity. Adult woman and girl children are exclusively employed in this activity.

It is estimated that about 2.5 lakh children are working in cottonseed farms in Andhra Pradesh. Hybrid cottonseed production is concentrated in Andhra Pradesh which alone account for 62% of the total seed production in India. Within AP, nearly 90% of seed production is concentrated in Mahaboobnagr and Kurnool districts. Though seed production is carried out in most of the mandals in these districts there is high concentration of seed production in Gadwal, Dharur, Maldakal, Gattu, Iza, Atmakur, Jadcharla in Mahaboobnagar and Allagadda, Nandhyala, Sanjamala, Kiolkuntla, banaganapalli, Uyyalawada, Emmiganur, Mantralayam, Kodumur mandal in Kurnool districts. The other districts where cottonseed production is carried out are Randareddy in Telangana and West Godavary, Krishna and Vijayanagaram in Coastal Andhra regions.

The growth of hybrid cottonseed production in AP state is not only linked to increasing demand for hybrid seeds within the state but also growing demand for these seeds in national and international markets. Local seed farmers, who have agreements with national and multinational seed companies, secure the labour of girls by offering loans to their parents in advance of cultivation, compelling the girls to work at the terms set by the employer for the entire season, and, in practice, for several years.  These girls work long days, are paid very little, are deprived of an education and are exposed for long periods to dangerous agricultural chemicals.