Arrivals of wheat, mustard and other major rabi crops at mandis during the first two weeks of April were more than 90% lower than in the previous year, according to an analysis by research and ratings agency CRISIL. However, increase in the prices have not been very high boding ill for farmers. Fruit farmers have been hit the hardest with prices actually down 9%, despite 85% fall in arrivals.The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis on the rabi or winter season harvest has been brutal, despite government efforts to facilitate agricultural activities. The CRISIL research showed that only one lakh tonnes of major rabi crops — wheat, gram, rapeseed and mustard — arrived in mandis between April 1 to 12,
Month: April 2020
Coronavirus lockdown | Minor forest produce in exemption list
This includes non-timber items such as bamboo and other grasses, edible or useful roots, seeds, fruits, flowers and plants In the latest set of lockdown relaxations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has added the collection, harvesting and processing of minor forest produce to the list of activities that will be permitted.The additional directives from the Home Ministry were issued on Thursday.Also read: Appliances, electronics industry seek nod from local authorities to restart productionMinor forest produce includes non-timber items such as bamboo and other grasses, edible or useful roots, seeds, fruits, flowers and plants. A number of people from scheduled tribes and other forest dwelling communities depend on the collection and sale of such items for their livelihood.Reports from some forest
Farmer outfits seek financial incentive
As wheat harvesting is gradually picking up in Punjab, farmer outfits have urged the BJP-led government at the Centre to immediately announce financial incentive for farmers in the wake of staggered procurement.Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee spokesperson Baljit Singh Talwandi said the KMSC in a recently held meeting had passed a resolution demanding ₹200 bonus to farmers on the wheat purchased in the wake of the coronavirus threat. Also, governments should pay ₹10,000 per month to the unemployed youth.“We have also demanded regular and timely payments to farmers. Also, farmers should be allowed to bring more than 50 quintals of wheat for sale to the market yards,” he said.Sarvan Singh, general secretary of KMSC, said farmers were also facing