Apr , 2020, Volume : 1 Article : 22

Indian agriculture and role of agricultural extension system to cope up with COVID-19 crisis

Author : Riti Chatterjee

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is a global emergency, having potential impact on the global population. India, as a part of the world, is also facing crisis in health sector. However, globally, lakhs of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and thousands of deaths are shadowing the agricultural issues. India is not also lagging behind. So, it must be said, create food security crisis in India if correct measures are not taken. In India, it is important to minimize the undesirable effect and harming livelihood of the poor and marginal people. Till date supplies of staples foods, fruits, vegetables, and meats are although adequate, but, it still is carrying threats to food security, in the long run. Due to prolonged lockdown, restrictions are imposed on transportation and movement of people. This is hampering agricultural logistic and supply chain. Thus, India needs to be smart and innovative to bridge the health shock and socio-economic shock. An inter-disciplinary team of medical professionals and extension personnels have to join their hand in creating awareness of the COVID-19, its modes of transmission in the community and safety measures. Quality seeds must be reached to farms for un-interrupted sowing operations in the current and following seasons. Automated machinery facility and ICT should be introduced which may help the farmers in this time of labour shortage. Subsidies must be provided to the manufacturers of such machineries for the sake of the farmers. These may demand in some policy changes. Thus, both the role of central and state governments have to play some crucial roles in strengthening Indian agriculture sector at this time of pandemic to maintain the continuous flow of food production. Otherwise, both export and domestic demands will get hampered badly. Hence, one of the most important post-COVID-19 challenges will be to restore agro-economic activities as before. The government should take these matters into consideration to maintain food production sustainability.


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