Читать книгу Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies - Группа авторов - Страница 60

Although it was predicted that the lockdown would be lifted after 21 days from 24 March 2020, now extended to extra 19 days 03 May 2020, farm experts are still burdened by the anticipation of a cash crash in the mandis, which might seriously impact their state of mental wellbeing. Everywhere, farmers are apprehensive and anticipating retraction of the lockdown. However, it is possible that, even if the lockdown ends, the mandis may not perform effectively in the post‐lockdown period and the farmers may encounter a cash crash. This situation may potentially lead to the dumping of fruits, vegetables, and other farm produce, damaging the economic status of the farmers.

In the seven districts like Jhansi, Lalitpur, Banda, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot, and Mahoba of the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, a change in the cropping pattern is being witnessed, which is not by choice but the only option available, which includes irrigation of the winter crop instead of the kharif crop. The failure to harvest in the past has led to a spate of suicides, which is continuing till date with the decadal numbers witnessing a spike. The failure of the existing government schemes in the Bundelkhand region is evident, in which, weather uncertainties are chronic. However, the situation is similar in the other regions of the country as well. Finally, quick policy measures by the government considering the specific need of time in relation to the specific regions throughout the country including direct procurement, landless laborers, direct cash transfers to the farmers and interest subvention through cash transfers and KCC modes are the ways to overcome this crisis and minimize the impact of this lockdown.

Figure 4.5 Wheat/rice crops are ready for harvesting at many places and farmers in India are worried that they would incur huge losses due to the lockdown ensuing from the outbreak of COVID‐19.