Year: 2021 | Month: December | Volume 8 | Issue 2
Impact of Covid-19 on Agric ulture in Cold Arid Ladakh Marginal and Small farmers hit hard, increases cost of cultivation, boost for family farming
Parveen Kumar
Kunzang Lamo
D. Namgyal
DOI:10.30954/2394-8159.02.2021.6
Abstract:
Worldwide, COVID-19 pandemic resulted in huge loss of life and to contain its spread, large scale restrictions on every type of movement were enforced. These restrictions affected the agriculture sector, disrupted the food supply chain system ultimately affecting the farming community. A study conducted to explore the effect of COVID-19 in the cold arid Leh district of Ladakh division was conducted. The study came out with the conclusion that marginal and small farmers were hit hard by the lockdown. Labour availability became a major problem during lockdown and this increased the cost of cultivation by about 20 to 30 per cent. Another 63% of the farmers could not get vegetable seeds and other inputs in time. About 8% of the farmers reported to have left their land fallow due to the apprehension of labour shortage. However, the lockdown had also some positive effects. It came as a boost for family farming. As the family members who were studying or working away from their homes had to return home, they contributed towards various farming operation in their families.
Print This Article Email This Article to Your Friend
