A severe shortage of labor, triggered by India's 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, will disrupt harvesting of winter crops in the world's second largest producer of staple food grains, such as wheat.
NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE - A severe shortage of labor, triggered by India’s 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, will disrupt harvesting of winter crops in the world’s second largest producer of staple food grains, such as wheat.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” said Ramandeep Singh Mann, a farmer from Punjab, whose family grows wheat, rice and cotton on more than 45 acres and would employ about 10 workers if they used mechanical harvesters.Mann is just one of thousands of farmers concerned he will be unable to get mechanical harvesters to fields or even manage to gather by hand crops likely to be ripe in mid-April.
But trade and industry officials say delays in arrival, berthing and other shipping operations could affect rice exports, while the lack of workers could limit exports of fresh vegetables, such as onions. “Who is going to put grains in the bag, bring produce to wholesale markets, and then transport it to various storage facilities?” asked Jadish Lal, a merchant at the Khanna grain market in Punjab.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Disney+ India Launch Postponed Until April 3 Amid Coronavirus PandemicThe streaming service was supposed to become available in the country on March 29, but the launch plans are on a brief 'pause' amid the postponement of the start of the Indian Premier League cricket season.
Read more »
New Date Set for Disney Plus Hotstar Launch in IndiaThe slightly delayed India launch of streaming platform Disney Plus Hotstar is now set for Friday. The service will be available in two price tiers. Disney Plus VIP subscribers get access to the en…
Read more »
Disney+ To Launch In India On April 3 After Short DelayUsers in India won’t have to wait long for the delayed launch of Disney+. The service will now roll out this Friday, April 3, less than a week after the original proposed date. The Disney str…
Read more »
India and Pakistan try to keep a fifth of humanity at homeBut for many in the subcontinent, the restrictions mean instant ruin
Read more »
Coping With COVID-19 Crisis: The Perspective From India; Local Producer Vikram Malhotra On How Nation’s “Lifeblood” Cinema Is Being ImpactedEditors’ Note: With full acknowledgment of the big-picture implications of a pandemic that has already claimed thousands of lives, cratered global economies and closed international borders, Deadli…
Read more »