CORONA VIRUS AND PUNJAB AGRICULTURE.
The entire country is super alert against the spread of corona virus. The arrangement by the concerned administrative circles is by and large commendable. The supply line of essential commodities like milk, vegetables, medicines, etc, is not disrupted.
Almost all educational organizations and departments, public or private, are now working from home. As a preventive measure and to ensure social distancing, faculty, staff and students have been given a break till further orders under the instructions of the Government. Teachers are imparting online education. All the needed steps have been taken as per directions of state and central governments. The Prime Minister himself is keeping himself connected with the ground reality.
It is indeed good that people in Punjab are fully cooperating to stay confined to their homes and avoiding mixing up with crowd. These efforts and preventive measures are proving effective in the containing of virus spread. It is rather positive sign that no corona positive case was reported in the past two days, from Punjab. The available reports say that the total tally of covid-19 patients in Punjab is 38 and that those under treatment are recovering.
Let us discuss the situation at homes. The lockdown has kept the domestic helps away. People have understood the gravity of the situation well and have taken the work of dusting, cleaning and kitchen chores in their own hands. Punjabis are alive to the situation. They understand the situation and make the required adjustments as per need.
As agriculture is concerned, Punjab’s situation is however worrisome. Wheat crop is maturing on over 35 lakh hectare area. The crop is nearing harvesting stage fast. Their harvesting is done either using combines or sickle harvesting. These operations require manpower. Punjab agriculture is greatly labor dependent. Most of the migratory laborers are moving away to their places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand or they are not moving out from their places.
The situation is grave at New Delhi. The Central Government has a tough time managing the laborer flocks going to their far off native places from the NCR Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Besides jeopardizing the efforts to stay protected against the spread of corona virus, through prevention, and enhancing the chances of community spread of the virus, the flocking laborers will affect the harvesting and post harvest handling of various crops such as wheat, rapeseed and mustard, lifting of potato and irrigation and other husbandry operations of crops like maize, onion, vegetables and horticultural crops.
The non-availability of work force in the fields will disturb the crop healthcare and the incidence of pests and diseases will go unmanaged. This will inflict the quantitative and qualitative loss to the crops, fruits and vegetables.
The dairy farming is also adversely affected due to break in the supply line of fodder. Consequently milk production and availability will be affected.
If there will not be timely harvest, there will be no foodgrains in the market, no procurement and it will affect the food security of the masses. It is a serious matter.
The Government must consider this point and take steps otherwise the coming time will adversely affect the farming and farmers as well as food security of the country.
Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman
Registrar, CT University, Ludhiana
Mobile: 98156-59837
jagdhimanadc@gmail.com