India’s farm growth unlikely to be impacted by COVID-19

By Masood Sattar Khan 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Unlike other sectors, having been devastated by coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, India’s farm growth is unlikely to be impacted much due to the onslaught. 

The Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, claimed on April 29 that the farm sector was functioning smoothly despite COVID-19 lockdown and it should not cause much impact on its growth in the current fiscal unlike other sectors.

"In the current lockdown situation, the agriculture sector is functioning smoothly as there has been no shortage of food grains, vegetables and dairy products. But, many other sectors are impacted,” the minister remarked during a media briefing. 

"Agriculture GDP was at 3.7 per cent during last year. I am confident that this growth in future will not be impacted much," he added. 

“The impact of lockdown on the overall agriculture GDP will not be much this year on hopes of good rains. And the government has exempted farm activities from the lockdown rules,” he said.