Contrary to govt claims, Bihar farmers struggle to harvest, transport their produce

Despite the government easing restrictions on the harvest and transport of agriculture produce, farmers in Bihar say they face difficulties due to unavailability of labourers and lack of transportation facilities.

Bihar:Although farmers have been permitted to harvest during the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, cultivators in Afzalpur village of Bihar’s Saran district feel that they have been robbed of the chance to reap profits from their produce.

Amid the absence of agricultural labourers to help with harvesting and procurement, and no transport facilities to take the produce to markets, the farmers stare at an uncertain future even as the season for cultivating Kharif crops (monsoon crops) is fast approaching.

“We will only be able to market our produce if the government extends us some help..as you can see we have received no help. We don’t have money,” a farmer told ETV Bharat while pointing towards his farmland which has several tonnes of wheat to be harvested.

Contrary to the concerns raised by the farmers, Prem Kumar, Bihar’s Minister of Agriculture claimed that everything is “fine” so far as agriculture is concerned.

“Bihar is an agriculture dominated state.76 % per cent of the state’s population is dependent on agriculture. The farmers did face problems at the beginning of the lockdown but things are fine now,” Kumar told ETV Bharat.

In Bihar, the harvest of the Rabi crop has traditionally begun after the Ramnavami celebrations and will be completed within four weeks. A fortnight has already passed since the festival.

The Union Home ministry’s relaxed lockdown restrictions, announced on Wednesday, have brought no relief to farmers either.