Rapid Fire
Suggi Migration
- 21 May 2025
- 2 min read
Every summer, thousands of families from Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh undertake seasonal migration, locally known as Suggi.
- Causes for Suggi Migration: Agriculture in Rayalaseema is entirely dependent on monsoon rains (June–September). No secondary crop season due to lack of water.
- Tanks and ponds dry up during summer, leaving entire villages without drinking or irrigation water. Failed borewells and lack of irrigation projects worsen the crisis.
- Lack of non-farm jobs compels rural workers to migrate. While Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) offers Rs 307/day in Kurnool, delayed payments make it unreliable.
- In contrast, migrant work like chilli harvesting pays around Rs 1,000/day, making it a more attractive option.
- Suggi reflects a rural economy trapped in cycles of drought, underdevelopment, and migration.
- Solutions: Irrigation infrastructure is seen as the key to breaking this cycle of seasonal distress. Experts suggest building a weir (low-head dam) to divert 50 thousand million cubic feet of Krishna water to Rayalaseema
- Rayalaseema: It is a semi-arid zone in southern Andhra Pradesh comprising Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Kurnool districts. Rivers like Penna and its tributary, the Papagni flow through the region.
| Read more: Migration: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions |
