Centre collaborates with States to ensure Undisrupted Agricultural Activities during Covid-19

The agriculture ministry collaborates with the state governments to facilitate and ensure that harvesting and allied activities do not disrupt due to the pandemic, a senior agriculture ministry official told. 

The official added that “Harvesting is in full scale. Out of the total wheat sown in 31.58 million hectares, 55% has already harvested in the country, with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh almost finishing the harvest. Other major wheat-producing states are likely to complete the harvesting by the end of this month.”

He said the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws had not impacted farm activities in Haryana, Punjab, and Western Uttar Pradesh - the core of the agitation. 

“The government has procured around 7.5 million tonnes wheat in Punjab - 58% of the total targeted procurement in the state. More than 2.3 lakh farmers in the state have received over Rs 7,800 crore directly in their bank accounts. Over 22,000 agents engaged in procurement will get their commission once they raise the bill after this exercise,” the official told. 

He said harvesting of other crops like pulses and mustard had been completed, while sugarcane harvesting is in the final stages. Farmers are getting a lucrative price for mustard due to the surge in demand for mustard oil. As against the minimum support price of Rs 4,650 per quintal, farmers are getting Rs 6,500-Rs 7,000 a quintal at big/major mandis. 

 “Of the pulses sown in 15.81 million hectares, harvesting has been completed for gram, lentils, urad, moong, and field pea. Similarly, 41% harvesting of rice has been completed. For sugarcane, out of the total sown in 4.85 million ha, harvesting has been completed in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Telangana.

For Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, harvesting is in final stages,” the official said.