Farmers’ union claims heavy losses, writes to PM for COVID compensation

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 30

Unimpressed with the Centre’s assertion of smooth agricultural operations, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) is claiming heavy losses and demanding an economic package of Rs 1.5 lakh crore to compensate farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The government has maintained that all operations, including harvesting and sowing, and support, relaxations and financial incentives have been performed without a hitch.

Lockdown was a good move in the interest of the country but it was announced at the time when farmers were preparing to harvest Rabi crops and to sow Kharif, said BKU.

Due to the lockdown, farmers who grow vegetables and fruits lost 80 per cent of their crop while flower and milk farmers lost 100 per cent and 50 per cent respectively of their produce, the farmers union said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The government must help the sector with direct income and monetary support because unlike other sectors, a large section of the stakeholders do not have any savings/backup and are in dire straits, as per the letter signed by Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (A).

Since the lockdown it had become difficult for farmers to get labourers to harvest the crops standing in fields, he said, contradicting government claims of smooth harvesting and operations.

The BKU leader said farmers are facing a massive crisis and the government should immediately provide an economic package of 1.5 lakh crores to compensate for the loss of fruits, vegetables, milk, poultry, fisheries, bee, spinach, and flowers.

“The benefit of Kisan Samman Nidhi should be given to all farmers as the first instalment. The amount of Kisan Samman Nidhi should be increased from Rs 6000 to Rs 24,000 and procurement should be arranged for all types of crops, including cotton, wheat, gram, mustard and farmers who have been facing bad weather for a long time should be given a bonus of Rs 200/quintal on wheat,” he said

The BKU is also demanding one-year exemption on the interest of all types of loans taken by farmers and the availability of fertilizer for Kharif crop must be ensured.

Crop loan is taken by farmers producing fruits, vegetables and flowers should be waived and along with self-sufficiency of food grains in the country, pulses and edible oil should also be made self-sufficient. To eliminate the dependence of the country on agricultural imports, farmers should be encouraged and incentivized to produce edible oil and pulses. And their crops must be procured by the government, the BKU is also demanding.

Due to untimely rains, the harvest of Rabi crops had already delayed by 15 days. After the announcement of the lockdown, it became difficult for farmers to get labours to harvest the crops standing in fields,” says Tikait.

Notably, presenting a very positive outlook for the sector, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar yesterday said that despite a lockdown in the country the sowing of summer crops has increased to 57.07 lakh hectare which is more than 38 per cent over area sown last year and that all agri operations were progressing smoothly.

“Even in such trying circumstances and conditions sowing has not decreased and in other related activities the sector is making good progress due to the good practices adopted by the government and hard work by farmers,” Tomar said adding that harvesting had been complete in most areas and good sowing showed there was no shortage of labour.”

Despite the lockdown and adverse conditions, harvesting has also not been affected, he added

“In GDP the contribution of agriculture remains 3.7 per cent and I am sure in coming days it will not be affected much,” he said.

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