Barrier For Running Agriculture: Lockdown !

 Impacts of Lockdown In Agriculture Sector Of Nepal

To be honest, no one might have thought such a devastating situation would be leading the whole world for a long time.

 Today, we are depressed to a level; but handling ourselves and keeping calm, yes waiting patiently for the hope of better tomorrow has only been the key option left within us. Researchers across the whole world are putting their whole efforts for the invention of a Covid-19 vaccine, but yet has not been successful till date. What a saddening time! The lives are being severe in terms of both survival and freedom. Outside is the fear of  getting disease and inside is the fear of survival ( remembering the quote, "no money, no honey"!). Can we think of the ones  about their survival who used to leave and sleep on roads or the ones running with daily wages?

Nepal is known by the name of  landlocked country and is under the list of developing countries. It has maintained a great progress in the reduction of poverty on the summary of last 20 years , from 42 percent to 21.6 percent in the years of 1991/1992 to 2015/2016 (GoN , 2015).Despite these progress was not easy due to the severing earthquakes, trade distractions and many sorts of political instabilities. Mention not, the major factor highlighting the Nepal's economy is no other than agriculture. It is a needed technique to control poverty. As per the FAO, 2019; CBS, 2009,agriculture sector covers one-third of Nepal's total GDP. Here, we can realize the importance  of agriculture in context of our country, Nepal. And today in such condition, we can assume how much the country is affected itself due too the barriers entangled in farming sector in this lockdown.

I called one of my friend residing in Biratnagar, she shared me , many mangoes are not being sold  in the market  in this times and we are making pickles from them  in order to save them from being waste, business has severely lowered, she said. While I am here in Kathmandu and viewing the markets with less mangoes than before times and yes , more price than before! Same cases are  going  with all other fruits, vegetables and crops. The news of the crops spoilage has also been severely highlighted, where one time the price was of the crops were lowered deeply , for about weeks and the farmers disappointment towards the failure of proper market access has been publicized. Obviously, lack of transportation  facilities available in these times, has been the  burden for sure! Is this a government weakness or ignorance  to be hindered in such priorities?

Agricultural inputs supply has been discontinued in many areas due to the allocation of lockdown  and thereby shortages of seeds, fertilizers,, fodder  and other feeds for animals, veteinary products , medicines, etc are causing disputes in planting and harvesting time period of the crops. Recently, we have heard in news that there was a delay in the harvest of wheat and lentil. In Chitwan, banana growers are afraid to harvest and are feared with the thinking that the fruit will ripen and get rot if the same condition exists. Cereal crops are the crucial one for survival and incase of the falling of the crop, there would be a long-term effects. Likewise, there has been a delay in planting of spring maize and rice this time. Morever, there has not been the land preparation for vegetable and fruit production in time, which is a high income source for every farmers and sellers. This makes a sense of somehow the food and nutritional security has somehow been locked in this lockdown.

Farmers are like our gods,  gods of nation!; providing life to the every citizens of the nation and in such hard times, its difficult for them to manage their lives , referring that their source of income is reduced. Farmers being paid for their crops are deprived of market facilities, which is tough. All source of dairy products such as milk, cakes, cream, butter, etc are not utilized properly due to the closing of bakery, restaurants, factories, etc. No doubt, it looks a round of  interconnected circle which is affected step by step.

Its not like lockdown is the bad or negative choice, its for ours protection and governments are also taking many steps regarding this issues. All voices from the local level are heard  and I hope the necessary steps for the  smooth running of agriculture would be done, since its the foremost thing for the survival. If nation is being fed properly, in these hard times, this can be the most blessed thing  ever !