Bhavnaben Suthar of Dungarpur, India is a farmer and master trainer for SEWA Manager Ni School. She grows various crops including wheat, chana, and sarso in her farmland. The majority of farmers in their area also grows vegetables. However, their livelihood is deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As her farm is far from the market, Bhavnaben now couldn’t find any means to transport her produce to the market. Some marketplaces have also closed down. Their crops will just go to waste if not sold soon.
It is now harvest season in Sagwara district in India. However, the country was placed under lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. In effect, harvesting machines and laborers are not allowed to go outside or to travel to other villages. Without help from laborers, farmers will not be able to harvest their crops. Without harvest, farmers have no other source of income to support themselves.
In Gamda Bamaniya village in India, many farmers cultivate wheat. However, right now they face challenges in terms of their livelihood. It is the harvest season now, but due to the lockdown being implemented in the country to stop the spread of COVID-19, laborers from other villages cannot travel to help with the harvesting of wheat. Earlier, unseasonal rains also ruined many of their crops. In addition to these, the men in the family are currently stuck in Mumbai where they work, so there are no other people to help the women in the household in bringing their crops home. Since laborers are not available, they cannot seek help elsewhere.
Ritikaben of SEWA appeals to the government to provide support to these farmers, especially the women farmers who badly need help.
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