| Peer-Reviewed

The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India and the Effect of Agricultural Farm Laws on Farm Sector Resilience

Received: 9 November 2022    Accepted: 6 December 2022    Published: 13 January 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

COVID-19 was recognized as a pandemic in early 2020 which resulted in lockdowns, social distancing and border closures to both goods and people globally. The impacts to the agriculture sector and farmers included instability in markets and farm prices, disruption of supply chains, and impacts to farmers including migrant worker’s health and livelihood. The World Bank considers India to be a lower-middle-income country (LMIC) and disruption of agriculture has profound implications. In India a majority of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector and two-thirds of its household expenditures are for food. Each year the Government of India announces procurement (support) prices for the main agricultural commodities with purchase operations organized through public agencies. Prices, supply chains and farm labour are intricately linked to both income and consumption of farmed crops and vulnerable to disruptions from COVID-19 impacts. We review the situation in India regarding COVID-19’s impacts on farmers, migrant workers and the agricultural sector. And also review the government response and impacts of three introduced farm laws designed to reduce COVID-19 impacts to the agricultural sector. The inter-relationships between farmers, government procurement policy, and agricultural laws are explored. The new farm laws implemented with good intentions resulted in widespread farmer protests, lawsuits, mistrust of government, and greatly affected farmer resilience with unexpected results.

Published in International Journal of Law and Society (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15
Page(s) 31-38
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

India, COVID-19, Resilience, Farm Law, Agriculture

References
[1] Vaman, R. S., Valamparampil, M. J., Ramdas, A. V., Manoj, A. T., Varghese, B., & Joseph, F. (2020). A confirmed case of COVID-19 among the first three from Kerala, India. The Indian journal of medical research, 151 (5), 493–494. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_2205_20
[2] Maggo, D. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers – insights from India. World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Available at: https://www.wbcsd.org/Overview/News-Insights/WBCSD-insights/Impact-of-COVID-19-on-smallholder-farmers-in-India.
[3] The Guardian. (2020). India racked by greatest exodus since partition due to coronavirus". March 30. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/india-wracked-by-greatest-exodus-since-partition-due-to-coronavirus
[4] Jaacks, L. M., Veluguri, D., Serupally, R., Roy, A., Prabhakaran, P., & Ramanjaneyulu, G. V. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural production, livelihoods, and food security in India: baseline results of a phone survey. Food security, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01164-w
[5] Murali, V. S. (2021). Commentary: India has a hidden COVID-19 crisis of food. CNA. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/india-farmers-agriculture-food-security-migration-covid-19-2003541
[6] Cariappa, A., Acharya, K., Adhav, C., Sendhil, R. & Ramasundaram, P. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on the Indian agricultural system: A 10-point strategy for post-pandemic recovery. Outlook on Agriculture, 50 (1), pp. 26-33.
[7] Imbert C. (2020). Webinar on inter-state migration in India in the time of COVID-19. India. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdVp2S4-hgQ
[8] Srivastava, S., Singh, J., Kumar, N., Singh, N. & Ahmad, N. (2020). Changing Agricultural Labour Market and its Effects on Farm Economy in India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 75 (4), pp. 469-480.
[9] Sen, A. & Ghosh, J. (2017). Indian Agriculture after Liberalisation. The Bangladesh Development Studies, 40A (1&2), pp. 53-71.
[10] Narayanan, S. (2020). The Three Farm Bills. The India Forum, (10), pp. 1-14.
[11] Narain, D. (2020). Transforming Indian Agriculture: A Policy Framework to Guide US-India Partnership. Atlantic Council, pp. 1-7.
[12] Times of India. (2020). What is farm bill 2020: Pros & cons of three farm bills the centre introduced. [online] Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/what-is-farm-bill-2020-pros-cons-of-three-farm-bills-centre-introduced/articleshow/78180231.cms
[13] Chaba, A. A, & Damodaran, H. (2021). Explained: Who are arhtiyas, also part of the farmers’ protest? What is their role? The Indian Express. Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-arhtiya-business-7098629/
[14] Elder, S. (2021). Coping with COVID-19: Certification supports farmer resilience. International Institute for Sustainable Development Policy Brief, pp. 1-8.
[15] Gulati, A. (2020). Offloading excess foodgrain stocks through open market operations will generate much-needed resources for govt. The Indian Express. Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-lockdown-food-stock-food-corporation-of-india-ashok-gulati-6469970/
[16] Damodaran, H. (2021). Explained: In Covid-19 pandemic, here are four food records. The Indian Express. Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-covid-19-pandemic-food-grains-rice-wheat-public-distribution-system-7357653/
[17] The Hindu. (2021). Cabinet approves Farm Laws Repeal Bill. New Delhi, November 24. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-approves-farm-laws-repeal-bill/article37658627.ece
[18] Vasudeva V. (2021). Farm laws repeal. A feel of victory, but fields of discontent. The Hindu. November 27. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/farm-laws-repeal-a-feel-of-victory-but-fields-of-discontent/article37710334.ece
[19] The Hindu. (2021). Repeal of farm laws: ‘Victory of non-violent struggle’. November 19. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/repeal-of-farm-laws-victory-of-non-violent-struggle/article37573699.ece
[20] The Hindu. (2021). It's official. Three farm laws scrapped. December 2. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-gives-assent-to-farm-laws-repeal-bill/article37802828.ece
[21] Balwinder-Singh, Shirsath, P. B., Jat, M. L., McDonald, A. J., Srivastava, A. K., Craufurd, P., Rana, D. S., Singh, A. K., Chaudhari, S. K., Sharma, P. C., Singh, R., Jat, H. S., Sidhu, H. S., Gerard, B., & Braun, H. (2020). Agricultural labor, COVID-19, and potential implications for food security and air quality in the breadbasket of India. Agricultural systems, 185, 102954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102954
[22] Food Corporation of India. (2021). Procurement. Available at: https://www.fci.gov.in/procurements.php/
[23] Department of Food and Public Distribution. (2021). Production and Procurement of Foodgrains. Department of Food and Public Distribution, pp. 1-27.
[24] Food Corporation of India. (2021). Agricultural Highlights. Food Corporation of India, pp. 1-50.
[25] Business Standard. (2020). Benefits, drawbacks of the 3 farm laws at the heart of farmers' protests. Available at: https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/benefits-drawbacks-of-the-3-farm-laws-at-the-heart-of-farmers-protests-120120600592_1.html.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sarthak Khanna, Shalu Darshan, Michael G. Tyshenko. (2023). The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India and the Effect of Agricultural Farm Laws on Farm Sector Resilience. International Journal of Law and Society, 6(1), 31-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Sarthak Khanna; Shalu Darshan; Michael G. Tyshenko. The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India and the Effect of Agricultural Farm Laws on Farm Sector Resilience. Int. J. Law Soc. 2023, 6(1), 31-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Sarthak Khanna, Shalu Darshan, Michael G. Tyshenko. The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India and the Effect of Agricultural Farm Laws on Farm Sector Resilience. Int J Law Soc. 2023;6(1):31-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15,
      author = {Sarthak Khanna and Shalu Darshan and Michael G. Tyshenko},
      title = {The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India and the Effect of Agricultural Farm Laws on Farm Sector Resilience},
      journal = {International Journal of Law and Society},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {31-38},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijls.20230601.15},
      abstract = {COVID-19 was recognized as a pandemic in early 2020 which resulted in lockdowns, social distancing and border closures to both goods and people globally. The impacts to the agriculture sector and farmers included instability in markets and farm prices, disruption of supply chains, and impacts to farmers including migrant worker’s health and livelihood. The World Bank considers India to be a lower-middle-income country (LMIC) and disruption of agriculture has profound implications. In India a majority of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector and two-thirds of its household expenditures are for food. Each year the Government of India announces procurement (support) prices for the main agricultural commodities with purchase operations organized through public agencies. Prices, supply chains and farm labour are intricately linked to both income and consumption of farmed crops and vulnerable to disruptions from COVID-19 impacts. We review the situation in India regarding COVID-19’s impacts on farmers, migrant workers and the agricultural sector. And also review the government response and impacts of three introduced farm laws designed to reduce COVID-19 impacts to the agricultural sector. The inter-relationships between farmers, government procurement policy, and agricultural laws are explored. The new farm laws implemented with good intentions resulted in widespread farmer protests, lawsuits, mistrust of government, and greatly affected farmer resilience with unexpected results.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in India and the Effect of Agricultural Farm Laws on Farm Sector Resilience
    AU  - Sarthak Khanna
    AU  - Shalu Darshan
    AU  - Michael G. Tyshenko
    Y1  - 2023/01/13
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15
    T2  - International Journal of Law and Society
    JF  - International Journal of Law and Society
    JO  - International Journal of Law and Society
    SP  - 31
    EP  - 38
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1908
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijls.20230601.15
    AB  - COVID-19 was recognized as a pandemic in early 2020 which resulted in lockdowns, social distancing and border closures to both goods and people globally. The impacts to the agriculture sector and farmers included instability in markets and farm prices, disruption of supply chains, and impacts to farmers including migrant worker’s health and livelihood. The World Bank considers India to be a lower-middle-income country (LMIC) and disruption of agriculture has profound implications. In India a majority of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector and two-thirds of its household expenditures are for food. Each year the Government of India announces procurement (support) prices for the main agricultural commodities with purchase operations organized through public agencies. Prices, supply chains and farm labour are intricately linked to both income and consumption of farmed crops and vulnerable to disruptions from COVID-19 impacts. We review the situation in India regarding COVID-19’s impacts on farmers, migrant workers and the agricultural sector. And also review the government response and impacts of three introduced farm laws designed to reduce COVID-19 impacts to the agricultural sector. The inter-relationships between farmers, government procurement policy, and agricultural laws are explored. The new farm laws implemented with good intentions resulted in widespread farmer protests, lawsuits, mistrust of government, and greatly affected farmer resilience with unexpected results.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Business School, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

  • R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

  • Risk Sciences International, Ottawa, Canada

  • Sections