COVID 19 HITS INDIA:
The first case of the Corona virus in India was reported on 30 January 2020. The number of cases in the country is rapidly increasing, on daily basis. The intensity at which the pandemic is increasing has resulted in the government of India’s action of imposing nationwide lockdown from 25 March 2020 to 17 May 2020 divided into three phases.
The lockdown was extended further. It has imposed restrictions on most the sectors of the country from operating. This current health crisis around the COVID-19 has affected all walks of life. Protection of the people infected by the virus and the frontline health workers has been government’s top most priority since the pandemic started.
In the initial stages of the lockdown the government had announced relaxations on only the essential organizations to operate, but the agriculture sector was not included, on 4 April Saturday the government issued relaxations and exemptions for agriculture and allied sectors. The Union ministry of home affairs amending the Disaster Management Act, according to which the stores of agricultural machinery, its spare parts (including its supply chain) and repairs and shops for transportation repairs on highways, can remain open in order to facilitate transportation and communication of farm produce.
COVID AND AGRICULTURE:
After the end of the first phase of the lockdown and the extension was announced, the government issued a new set of guidelines for the extended period of lockdown. It provided relief to certain sectors including agriculture. Some stakeholders feared that the implementation will not be strictly compiled with, which might affect the productivity.
The guidelines allowed all agriculture related activities, including work in the fields by farmers and workers, agencies engaged in obtaining of agricultural products. Some of the vibrant problems of COVID 19 were:
Even though the government allows workers associated with agriculture and related activities to keep working during the lockdown, it will be difficult to maintain social distancing norms in the market areas.
Making food grain, vegetables and fruits and other essential items available to the public during the lockdown is a very critical challenge to government machinery. Smooth operation of the supply chain, with suitable safety actions for the people involved, is of supreme prominence.
Transportation of public distribution system (PDS) items to last mile delivery agents, by both rail and road, has to be ensured by respective Government agencies. Distribution of the supplies to weak section of the society, while maintaining prescribed rules and protocol, particularly of social distancing, has to be effectively checked.
IMPACT OF COVID 19:
COVID-19 disturbed several agricultural activities and supply chains.
Initial reports show that the non-availability of migrant labor is interrupting some harvesting activities, predominantly in northwest India where wheat and pulses are being reaped. There are interruptions in supply chains because of transportation difficulties and other issues.
Prices fell down for wheat, vegetables, and other crops, yet buyers are often paying more. Some media reports show that the closing down of hotel chains, sweet shops ,restaurants, and tea stalls during the lockdown has already reduced milk sales.
Meanwhile, poultry farmers have been adversely affected due to rumors', particularly on social media, that chicken are the carriers of COVID-19.
According to an official at the Institute of Rural Management, the central government has taken the right decision by relaxing the limitations in the agricultural sector. “It is important that the agriculture and allied sectors got relief. This will enable in harvesting of the Rabi crops and also aid in preparation for the upcoming Kharif season. Also, the problem of food scarcity can be controlled,” he said to the news. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh launched the All India Agri Transport Call Centre at a function in Krishi Bhavan to facilitate inter-state movement of perishable goods during nationwide lockdown.
GOVERNMENT MEASURES:
Immediately after the lockdown was announced, the Indian Finance Minister declared an INR 1.7 trillion package, especially to help the vulnerable sections of the society (including farmers) from any hostile effect of the pandemic.
The announcement also kept in check an advance release of INR 2000 to the farmers’ bank accounts as income support under the PM-KISAN scheme. The Indian council of Agricultural Research has issued state wise guidelines for farmers to follow during the lockdown.
The ongoing lockdown coincides with the Rabi harvesting season, farmers across the country hope that the Government will ensure uninterrupted harvesting of the crops as well as smooth procurement operations.
The Union Home Ministry’s circular waiving restrictions on the inter- and intra-State movements of farmers/laborers, as well as harvesting and related farm machines, is indeed a step in the right direction. While ensuring availability of workers for critical farm operations, their safety from coronavirus infection and welfare has to be the priority of the Government systems.
Recommendations and Strategies that should be adopted:
Within the agony and plight amidst the COVID 19 Pandemic, there are many solutions and methods that the farmers can adapt in order to survive and grow:
FPO’s and Communal Farming:
Collective or Communal Farming are types of farming where farmers come together and run their holdings in the form of a joint enterprise. The prices of the milk and dairy industry in general were not affected by COVID 19 which adds to benefit that farmers by forming these FPO’s and practicing Collective farming will achieve economies of scale and more market power which will ultimately help them overcome the fluctuations in prices if the need arises.
Investment in Agriculture:
The annual growth rate estimate from 2014 to 2018–19 in agriculture and its allied sectors was approximately 2.96%. While the Indian economy witnessed a contraction by 23.9% in Q1 of 2020–21, agriculture was the only sector to having a positive growth of 3.4%. This in itself proves that more investment in agriculture can help it survive and thrive during the pandemic. While the other sectors have failed to perform agriculture remains one of the sectors to register a positive growth and therefore continuous investment and schemes can help agriculture to survive the pandemic .
Buffer Stock Monetization:
The buffer stock held by the Food Corporation of India is worth at least ₹1,50,000 crore (US$205 billion). The monetization of this some of this buffer stock can be used to stabilize prices of the crops, and help in generating revenue for the government which can be used to help in growth of different sectors in the pandemic. This strategy can be helpful to generate money for investment in agriculture and other sectors reviving them from the tribulations of the pandemic.
Development of Secondary sector in Agricultural Sector :
The lockdown induced due to COVID 19 has distorted agricultural labor markets which witnessed huge labor migration. A survey report shows that around 45% of the migrants returned to their hometowns during lockdown . Structural weakness in the agricultural system should be adhered to enable recognition of the farming activity as an enterprise. The disguised unemployment in the system should be addressed and therefore more emphasis should be placed on development of secondary agricultural activities such as development of handicrafts from agricultural wastes or developing decorative items and pivoting this to bring them in the e commerce market, thus generating employment, reducing the impact of COVID on this particular sector and most importantly development of entrepreneurship in the rural areas.
Agricultural Credit Reforms:
Amidst the global pandemic, the strategy of easing the availability of credit to the farmers should be implemented in the form interest subvention, low interest rates and structured and extension of payment periods. This will help the penury come out their plight and help them survive during the pandemic. Restructuring of loans and repayment scheduled can help the farmers get out of their existing debt traps too, further easing them during the pandemic.
CONCLUSION:
Though the government has taken measures to help ease the agriculture related activities, the increasing intensity of this COVID 19 pandemic will result in more restrictions on movement in the country than now. As the number of cases is rapidly increasing along with the increase in the need for more restrictions in the country it will be difficult for most of the sectors to operate, including agriculture.
So, to prevent these difficulties from occurring the government has to take strict measures now itself. The measures have to be regarding the prevention of the coronavirus disease from spreading more in the country, safety measures for farmers and other agriculture related laborer's. Making the transport of the agricultural produce and other perishable products easier, keeping in mind the lockdown rules. Rules to be implemented in the market areas where farmers can sell their produce, without violating any social distancing rules. Deciding only specific market days so that a huge number of people don’t come out every day to buy essential goods.
Health safety measures for transport workers, as they travel and have high chances of infecting other people if they are infected. Compensations have to be provided to farmers in case of losses during the lockdown. The government has to give more importance to the farmers and other agricultural workers as they are the source of most of the income of the country, the economy can be kept from falling down only if the agricultural activities continue without a lot of restrictions, as all other sectors are not as essential as agriculture during a time like this.
The maintaining of the rising and falling of prices of the agricultural goods has to be strictly monitored as either can affect the public of the nation. The economy especially during this time depends mostly on agriculture. So, the government has to prioritize it along with other essential activities.
Source:
Keywords: Dost Kisan , Agriculture, Pandemic, Covid 19, Farmer , Shining Tomorrow Foundation, Buffer Stock ,Food , Grains , Farming
תגובות