Lockdown: What farmers are facing

News Desk

It would be mean to talk about the problem of one particular section where the entire world is facing trouble these days but there is one section if remains ignored will effects many other sections and people. The effect will be unimaginable. We are talking about farmers, who are facing double trouble due to coronavirus.

The country is facing coronavirus and the priority for all is to deal with the crisis. In this fight the farmers are also standing, like all others with the government but the farmer is facing major trouble. Usually summer is tough for farmers due to excessive heat but this year the heat has begun even before summer could come. The farmers are upset as they are unable to sell their produce.

The lockdown is there since March 25 in the entire country and it shall stay till May 3. This has resulted in to economic crisis for the farmers. Particularly those in the work of cash crop or growing vegetable, fruits that are perishable items.

In many states farmers are unable to sell wheat crop and in Nasik farmer are unable to sell grapes and are upset. Nasik region has good grape crop and these days the crop is ready for sale.

The farmers have two options to either stock them in godown or let them remain on the fields but in both conditions they need to sell the produce quickly else it will perish. They can not opt for cold storage as the cold storage are already full to their capacity.

Not just grapes, but banana, oranges, mango and pomegranate are also ripe and the have worries on the face of the farmers. In Nander district farmers have crop of turmeric and vegetables. They too are worried. Those with onion crop in Nasik too are worried. A farmer from Koswan area in Nasik Ramlakhan Gaikwad says the crop of onion that was sold @Rs 1800 to Rs 2000 per quintal is now going for Rs 400 to Rs 800,

Supply chain

The entire problem has a big reason in supply chain that has been hit hard due to lockdown. The market is closed due to lockdown and so the trucks are standing still. Farmers are facing trouble in sending their produce to far off places. It is not that demands is less but with despite demand the supply is not being made. In cities there is shortage of fruits and vegetables. While in the field the crop is getting rotten.

The world famous Alphonso mango is biting dust. The mango that was sold at Rs 5000 per carton is now being sold at Rs 2000 to Rs 3000. Many farmers are not getting even this., In this time of crisis farmers who have extended support to the government are unable to do anything but to see their crop getting damaged. farmers are troubled as they do not find any transport or buyer. They are facing trouble.

Transport business too effected

The supply chain from field to the consumer has transport as a main link in the supply chain. This has gone weak in the lockdown. During lockdown agriculture and agriculture related business were allowed but during the initial days no one knew this. Lockdown had no specific and clear guideline.

Hence vehicles were stopped. The result is 3.5 lakh trucks stand still in the country and they are standing with good worth 35000 crore in them.

The truck owners too are in difficult times as thousands of crore worth goods is loaded in their trucks and majority of the vehicles are stuck at state borders or check post. The daily loss due to lockdown can be understood. SIMTC says if we calculate @Rs2200 per truck then the transport industry has suffered a loss of Rs 50000 crore.

Ninty percent of trucks are empty and after lockdown also the normal days will take a month or two to come or more. These figures tell how many are effected.