Cogencis, Friday, Mar 27

By Kaushal Verma

NEW DELHI – The 21-day nationwide lockdown enforced to stem the spread of COVID-19, may not only delay the harvest of 2019-20 (Jul-Jun) rabi crops, which are almost mature, but also take a toll on food grain production this year.

The second advance estimate released by the farm ministry last month pegged India’s food grain output at a record high of 291.95 mln tn in 2019-20, 2.4% higher from the previous year. This estimate is now under a cloud, as farmers and agri-experts fear loss of yield if farmers are unable to harvest the crop on time due to the lockdown.

"It is a double whammy for the farmers. They don't have farm machines and labourers to harvest crop and even if they manage it somehow manually on small land holdings, they don't have place to store it," said K.K. Singh, head of Agricultural Agrimet Division at India Meteorological Department.  

Because of the lockdown, farmers are also unable to take their crops to the Agricultural Produce Market Committees, many of which are still shut. The restricted movement of trucks is adding to their woes, he said.

"The crops are ready to harvest in most parts of the country. Any delay in harvesting will lead to damage because of forecast of rains. Farmers will suffer in all the cases, unless government does not intervene," said Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj.

The harvest of major rabi crops--wheat, chana, and mustard--as well as vegetable crops including potato is already underway in some parts of the country. Leaving the harvest mid-way will expose the ready crop to vagaries of the weather.

With rising day temperatures due to summer and more sunny days in the offing, there is a chance that pods of rabi crops may scatter and split on the field, said Sonepat-based farmer Vikas Vasudeva.

"In case there is a forecast of rains in coming days, the crop will get moist, lodge and may face the risk of quality and yield loss," said A.K. Singh, deputy director (crop sciences) general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

India Meteorological Department expects heavy rainfall over most parts of northwest India--Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan--in the next four to five days due to a western disturbance over the region. It also expects a fresh western disturbance to impact the region from Sunday.

Squalls could flatten the crop and lead to grain shedding, Jakhar said. This could not only lead to loss of quality, but also loss of output.

If the government wants farmers to stay at home and suspend their harvesting during the lockdown, it should assure them that their damaged crop either in the field or at home would get proper and speedy claims from insurance companies, Jakhar said.       

Also, the government should direct its nodal agency Food Corp of India to widen the window of procurement when it begins after the lockdown period. The Centre should assure farmers that its agencies would procure the rabi crops if they are damaged, he said.

The woes of farmers can be alleviated if the government allows functioning of all mandis in a restricted time, like they are doing with grocery shops to ensure the smooth functioning of the agri-value chain, said All India Dal Mill Association President Suresh Agarwal.

The suspension of operations for three to four weeks will put mills out of raw materials, which will hamper smooth supplies to consumers. Trucks carrying farm commodities must be allowed to ply on the roads and warehouses should be allowed to function normally to support the farmers, Agrawal said.

The biggest corollary of the hampered truck movement would be damage to horticulture crops.

"Farmers should not delay harvest of fruits and vegetables crops as they are perishables and their shelf life is shorter than food grains," said A.K. Singh deputy director (crop sciences) general at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Unless farmers are able to transport them to mandis in time, the harvested or even the ready-to-harvest crop could start rotting.

The government should provide proper machinery to ensure transport of these horticulture crops to retail markets during the lockdown. It is not just in the interest of farmers, but also consumers that supply chains keep running.  End

Edited by Ashish Shirke