Sharad Pawar. File photo: PTI
‘Standing crops lost due to lockdown’
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said that the package announced by the Centre would not bring any immediate relief to the distressed farmers.
“The package does not make any provisions for compensating the crop losses incurred due to the lockdown conditions,” Mr. Pawar said in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 16.
The ₹20 lakh crore package announced to provide financial support to boost the economy would not bring any immediate relief to the distressed farmers. “The standing crops have perished due to lockdown causing great losses to the farmers. In turn, they are facing a cash crunch & need immediate support to undertake ensuing kharif season activities.” He said he had earlier sought urgent credit relief measures like restructuring agricultural loans, cutting down interest rates, and extension of moratorium period for repayment.
Mr. Pawar said the condition of the farming community was worsening by the day due to the pandemic and the consequent lockdown. On the threshold of the monsoon season, the farmer was not prepared to initiate a