IMPACT PATHWAYS OF COVID-19 ON AGRICULTURE AND GOVERNMENT REFORMS IN INDIA: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic severely influenced all the areas including agriculture. The effect
of COVID-19 on agriculture varies from country to country among farmers. In India, small
and marginal farmers are worst affected by the first lockdown. As the COVID-19 pandemic
is a recent phenomenon, there is a dearth of studies in determining its impacts on farming and
the related sectors. Hence, the relevant and recent literature was reviewed and the possible
impact felt in farm production, food demand, and the price is organized thematically and the
impact pathways are identified. The impact pathway clearly describes the impact on
agriculture. Several lessons were learned namely the importance of social programs,
institutional credit, input delivery, e-commerce, and storage structures. Many innovative
models were also developed and implemented by farmers, Self-Help Groups, Farmer
Producer Organizations, and private enterprises in supply chain management. The
Government of India has announced relief packages like free ration and cash transfers for the
poor and loan moratorium for farmers. To transform the crisis as an opportunity, the
government proposed many reforms in the Essential Commodities Act, the Agricultural
Products Market Committee Act, and the Contract Farming Act.