Farmers Movement Archive

Winds of change sweep farm sector

THE spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way agriculture is practised. In an agrarian economy like that of Punjab, the ‘Covid-compliant’ practices adopted by farmers and their clients (government agencies as well as private traders) are an unchartered territory, but these might stay even after the crisis is over.Farmers, especially dairy farmers and vegetable growers, have suffered losses because of the restrictions on movement at wholesale markets, necessitated to stop the spread of the pandemic. However, the ongoing procurement of wheat has given the farmers a much-needed economic push. The tech-assisted practices adopted for procurement, which initially met with strong resistance, have given farmers confidence, helping them sell their produce successfully, and these will be the new normal in food procurement.The pandemic has spurred the government machinery to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers and seeds for the next crop to be sown in Punjab. The state government has already brought 22 lakh packets (of the 27 lakh needed) of hybrid cotton seed, for sowing on over 5 lakh hectares of farmland. Of the 6,000 tonnes of maize seeds required for sowing, 4,600 tonnes have been brought to the state. Of the state’s urea requirement of 13 lakh quintals, to be used till August, 7 lakh quintals have been brought to the state in special trains.Kahan Singh Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture, Punjab, says that this year all agriculture practices have been closely monitored. “From harvesting of wheat as per a defined schedule, while maintaining social distancing, to a regulated passage of harvested grains to the mandis, from getting the seeds and fertilisers in special trains to learning to work in the fields on their own without migrant labour — agriculture in Punjab has seen a 360-degree change. Many of these practices will continue to stay much after we have overcome the Covid crisis,” he says.MS Sidhu, an eminent agro-economist, says, “I feel that because of the challenge posed by the unavailability of labour for transplanting paddy and the losses suffered by vegetable growers, a higher targeted area could be brought under cotton, maize and basmati, which has a good market and ensures good remuneration for farmers,” he reasons.Randeep Sangatpura, a small farmer at Sangatpura village near Lehragaga in Sangrur district, says though a majority of the farmers found it difficult to shift to tech-assisted procurement (where one could take the produce to mandis only after an electronic pass was generated), it did bring in some transparency in procurement. “The lockdown curbs were eased for farmers, helping us harvest the crop on time and buy seeds and fertilisers. Another important change in agriculture practices has been a clarion call given by the farmer unions themselves, asking farmers not to burn wheat straw as it could lead to several respiratory ailments, which could trigger the spread of Covid-19,” he says.Though the government and the courts have been repeatedly giving directions to farmers and the authorities to stop burning crop stubble, the farmer unions have opposed it, saying that farmers would stop only if an additional incentive is given to them. “This shows the new environment consciousness that has arisen among farmers because of this crisis,” he adds.While the wheat growers are happy, the small vegetable growers have been the worst sufferers, along with the dairy farmers. Gora Singh, a farmer from Bhaini Bagha village in Mansa, rues that last year, the capsicum he had sown on four acres had fetched him Rs 15-20 per kg, but the price has now crashed to Rs 2 per kg. “While farmers are getting a lower rate for their produce, the common man is paying the same price as that of last year. The government must bring in a minimum support price for vegetables at this crucial time and save us from financial ruin,” he adds.Pannu says the government is cognisant of the crash in prices of capsicum, tomato and melon. “Our entire focus is on ensuring that there is no distress sale of these vegetables presently sown in the fields. “We have roped in Punjab Agro Foodgrain Corporation to tie up with agencies in Azadpur Mandi in Delhi and traders in Jammu and Kashmir to sell these crops at reasonable rates,” he adds.Send your feedback to infocus@tribunemail.com

The Tribune

2020-05-04