Relaxation for agri sector brings respite for farmers, traders

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 8

To relax the lockdown for shops selling fertilisers, pesticides, agriculture machinery and tools have come as a respite for the agriculture community which these days is busy planting nursery for paddy crop. The farmers stated that due to the closure of markets they were facing trouble in getting seed, chemicals and machine parts.

The paddy transplantation is scheduled to start from the first week of June. With around a month left, the farmers are busy planting nurseries and preparing fields for the next crop.

“The agriculture machines and tools often need repairs and service before they are put to use in fields. Usually such works are done after the harvesting of wheat. But by the time, harvesting was completed, the government had imposed lockdown,” said Suresh Gandhi, a tractor spare parts seller.

The government has also allowed opening of shops selling industrial material, tools, pipes and motors. The demand for submersible motors and pipes for borewells is high during this season as farmers need these items for their tubewells to irrigate paddy crop.

The relaxation has elated the traders in nearby townships where most of the shops are related to sale of agriculture related items. “The previous lockdown period had been very tough. The government has now taken a timely decision and it will help traders and farmers,” said another shopkeeper Sukhwant Singh.