Over one lakh farmers, mostly women, with land holdings of around two acres, have migrated to Bengaluru over the last two years, and have taken up jobs in garment factories and other industries.

The farmers, from Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts, migrated to the city after having suffered huge losses in agriculture, forcing them to desert or sell their land. They moved in the hope of a steady income and life that was not bogged down by debts.

The figures were based on a recent survey in Bengaluru by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene.

Speaking to media persons, Hosuru Kumar, president of district unit of KRRS, and Hosakote Basavaraju, general secretary, said KRRS and Hasiru Sene was persuading the farmers to move back to the villages and to continue agricultural activities with help from the government schemes. Stating that they knew it was an onerous task to persuade the farmers, the members said they appeal to the government to offer incentives to farmers to return to their villages.

The KRRS plans to organise a conference of farmers working in Bengaluru soon.