Farmers to get exemption during lockdown: Agriculture Minister

Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday held a video conference along with other senior officials in New Delhi. Tomar called for strict compliance of the exemptions granted to Agriculture and allied sectors and directed setting up of control rooms for regular monitoring of the various exemptions and relaxations.

New Delhi:Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday held a video conference here to review the steps for facilitating farming activities during the 21-days nationwide lockdown.

Tomar said that the government has taken every single step to ensure that the farmers, workers engaged in agriculture and allied sectors can continue to operate without facing any difficulties.

The Minister said that the agricultural sector will be provided with some exemptions during the lockdown adding strict compliance will be ensured and monitored by senior officials.

The nutshell of the decisions taken during the video conference:

• The Minister said farmers should not face difficulty in harvesting crops.
• All efforts should be made that farmers can sell their produce near their farmlands.
• Farm produce is transported without hindrance within the state and inter-state.
• An exemption has been granted to the movement of trucks carrying farm produce.
• Officials must ensure that there should be no shortage of seeds and fertilizers.
• Tools and machinery shops involved in the agriculture sector will also get exempted from lockdown.
• Repair centres which provide aid to the heavy vehicles will also enjoy exemption.
• E-NAM, an online trading platform for agricultural commodities has been launched.

While elaborating the government measures, Niti Aayog member, Ramesh Chand, in an interview with a news agency, said the government has taken measures so that markets work normally during the lockdown period.

"The government has responded to the situation. No restriction is put on farmers in going to the field and undertaking agriculture operations. So, all those states which are following these guidelines, I do not think there will be any adverse impact on the farmers," he said.

On the first day of the countrywide lockdown, Chand said some reports came that farmers had to throw their perishable produce on the road.

"After states issuing an order and the district administration allowing movement of machinery transport, etc, I see that after the first day, we will not have any adverse impact on agriculture or farmers," the Niti Aayog member said.

Replying to a question, Chand said that in the financial year 2019-20, the farm sector growth is likely to be reported at little more than 3 per cent.

"I do not think there will be any impact (of lockdown) on this (farm sector) growth. We are expecting that growth rate of the agriculture sector will be little more than 3 per cent. I can say if no shock happens, the long-term growth rate of Indian agriculture will be 3 per cent," he said.

On fears that farmers may resort to distress sale due to lockdown, Chand said, "You see measures have been taken that markets work normally. Even in the case of the APMC Act, lots of relaxation has been commended".

"We have written to states that give relaxation to farmers, let them sell their produce," he added.

Noting that the most important crop of Rabi season is the wheat crop, its harvest in north-west India has yet not started, Chand said, "We hope that after one week or so its harvest will start, all necessary arrangements have been made by states".

The member also explained that the government has announced relief measures to ease the economic impact of the nationwide lockdown on the vulnerable section of society, including farmers.

"You will find that advance PM-KISAN money has been given to farmers. Whatever free food grains is being given to 80 crore families, farmers are also included. In the Jan Dhan accounts, you find that farmers are also included.

"So, whatever relief measures, the government has announced so far, they are available to farmers," he said.

The Niti Aayog member further noted that the duration for interest subvention scheme has been extended.

The government on March 26 had announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore stimulus that included free foodgrain and cooking gas to poor for three months, and cash doles to women and poor senior citizens as it looked to ease the economic impact of the nationwide lockdown.