Kerala: Strawberry farmers worst-hit by COVID-19 lockdown

As India enters into its second week of countrywide lockdown, farmers cultivating strawberries in Kerala region, who are unable to sell ir produce in markets continue to be worst affected lot during lockdown owing to Coronavirus pandemic. 

Farmers suffer due to lockdown

striving business of a number of farmers suffered a huge hit as lockdown implemented by centre and state authorities forced closure of many retail stores bringing sale of farmer's produce like strawberries and carrots in  Munnar region of Idukki to a complete halt. 

As a result, hapless farmers who were solely dependent on retail shops for sale of ir products, like strawberries suffered huge losses in ir business. 

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Govt provides aid to Farmers

However, even as times are testing, Government came to farmers' rescue by devising ways to provide some aid to those strawberry farmers who were incurring huge losses. In a relief to such farmers, government granted relaxation to agriculture-farming and allied activities to ensure uninterrupted harvesting of crops. 

As per a release by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry, activities related to agriculture were also brought under exception category from day of enforcement of 21-day lockdown to contain spre of Coronavirus. While government granted relaxation in view of  unhindered harvesting of crops, or categories, which were also exempted from lockdown include ncies engd in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP (minimum support price) operations and 'mandis' operated by Agriculture Produce Market Committee. 

exemptions also included farming operations by farmers and farmworkers in field and 'Custom Hiring Centres (CHC)' related to farm machinery. Manufacturing and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seed and intra-state and inter-state movement of harvesting and sowing related machines were also in exempted category.

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(with inputs from ANI)