The coronavirus lockdown affected many sectors in Pakistan, but the agricultural sector of the country has survived the adverse effects of the pandemic. According to agronomists, the production of various crops was not affected during the lockdown, but the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables was disrupted, impacting farmers and others connected to the industry.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, the Director-General of Agriculture (Extension) Punjab Dr Anjum Ali Buttar said that the Covid-19 Lockdown has not caused any damage to agricultural production due to which there is no danger of any crop shortage.
“Climate change, on the other hand, has severely affected crops in Sindh and Punjab. The month of October has begun but it is still hot in South Punjab, which has affected the growth of cotton,” he said. “Insects that attack different fruits, vegetables, and crops are also growing faster. Moreover, the torrential rains in September affected the tomato crop in many areas of the country, and farmers had to replant them.”
Dr Ajnum Ali Buttar added that no ban was imposed on the agricultural sector on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan during the lockdown. Agricultural machinery and fertiliser shops were kept open, while labourers were also allowed to work in the fields due to closure of work in the cities.
“Now that the lockdown is over and we are facing the dangers of climate change, farmers are being provided disease-resistant seeds approved by the department of agriculture at a subsidy of Rs1,200 per bag,” Buttar revealed. “Besides, 50 per cent of subsidy is being provided on gypsum to farmers to control weeds, improve herbicides, and treat salty lands.”
In addition, modern agricultural products are also being provided to farmers at discounted rates.
On the other hand, progressive farmer Amir Hayat Bhandara opined that even though the Covid-19 lockdown has not affected agricultural production, it has surely affected farmers, middlemen, and people connected with the food chain industry.
“During the lockdown, when cities were closed, demand for fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk sharply dropped,” he said. “Farmers in Punjab and Sindh, who used to go to the market daily for fresh vegetables, started receiving less money than the actual cost of these vegetables as the demand was suddenly very low.”
The production was high, but many farmers ploughed their fields and destroyed their vegetable crops. In particular, maize farmers suffered significant losses during the lockdown, Bhandara said.
“In the days to come, we will face the problem of buying expensive fertilisers and seeds. The government has bought wheat from farmers at Rs1,400 per quintal this year, after which its price went up. Now, farmers who need wheat for seeds will have to buy it at a higher price,” he said.
“Now that the lockdown is over, the use of fertilisers will increase and the prices of phosphorus fertilisers will correspondingly rise too. Prices of various phosphorus fertilisers have already gone up by Rs400 to Rs450 in the last few weeks.”
Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi said that under the Prime Minister’s Agricultural Emergency Programme, a project worth Rs12 billion is being implemented to increase wheat production per acre.
“Under the scheme, this year, farmers will be provided seed bags at subsidised rates approved by the department of agriculture which is resistant to diseases,” he said. “The welfare of the farmers has been the top priority of the present government. Wheat farmers will get better compensation for their crop this year as well.”
He added that during the current financial year, a significant amount of Rs7.75 billion is being spent on development projects which will increase the yield per acre of important crops.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2020.
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