Page 603 - ES 2020-21_Volume-1-2 [28-01-21]

07

Agriculture & Food Management

CHAPTER

(Who have the shade of cornful crest
Under their umbra umbrella rest.)
—Thiruvalluvar

The resilience of India’s agriculture sector can be seen from the fact that despite the
COVID-19 pandemic, its performance in output was strong. About 54.6 per cent of the
total workforce in the country is still engaged in agricultural and allied sector activities
(Census 2011) which accounts for approximately 17.8 per cent of the country’s Gross
Value Added (GVA) for the year 2019-20 (at current prices). While the difficulties created
by COVID induced lockdowns adversely affected the performance of the non-agricultural
sectors, the agriculture sector came up with a robust growth rate of 3.4 per cent at
constant prices during 2020-21 (first advance estimates). The sector has got renewed
thrust due to various measures on credit, market reforms and food processing under the
Atma Nirbhar Bharat announcements. Various interventions of the Government for the
development of allied sectors including animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries exhibit
its resolve towards tapping the potential of allied sectors to further enhance farm welfare.
In addition to various measures aimed at increasing productivity and improving marketing
of agricultural produce, the Government also carries out a large food management
programme with a significant financial implication in terms of food subsidy. Under the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, 80.96 crores beneficiaries were provided
additional foodgrains, i.e. above the NFSA mandated requirements, of 5 kg per person
per month free of cost till November, 2020. Over 200 LMT of foodgrains were provided
amounting to a fiscal outgo of over ` 75000 Crores. Also, under Atma Nirbhar Bharat
Package, 5 kg per person per month was distributed for four months (May to August) to
benefit approximately 8 crores migrants who are not covered under NFSA or state ration
card entailing subsidy of ` 3109 crores approximately.

INTRODUCTION

7.1 COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the lives of people across the globe and India is no
exception to that. The farming activities also experienced the impact of this pandemic as the
COVID induced lockdowns influenced the movement of farm inputs including farm machinery
from one location to other. The national lockdown coincided with the commencement of the
harvesting season for the Rabi crops creating further adversity for the sector. Migration of
agricultural labourers to their native places during the lockdown created a shortage of farm