The State Agriculture Department reopened the ‘Agri war room' in Bengaluru to assist farmers during the lockout, as it did last year. Two new helplines have been established: 080-22210237 and 22212818.
The war room will assist farmers in obtaining price information for their produce, such as vegetables, fruits, and flowers, in various markets. Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil said they will also provide details on the supply of farm inputs such as crops, fertilizers, chemicals, farm equipment, and subsidy schemes.
When COVID-19 broke out last year, the government had already set up the Agri War Room. Then, during the crucial era, this War Room assisted farmers in achieving a record 106 percent of sowing.
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., farmers should contact the department by calling helplines 080-22212818 and 080-22210237. The helpline will be monitored by two technical officers and a deputy director (agriculture).
In the coming days, the government is also considering forming a district-level team of officers from the departments of agriculture, horticulture, and sericulture to assist farmers.
Farmers, on the other hand, are concerned with not only exporting their products, but also finding a suitable market during the lockout. Their main issue is that there aren't enough bulk customers, so they have to pay extra for produce transportation.
In reality, some experts have advocated for the creation of a collaborative digital marketplace for the sale of farm produce. The Agriculture Department, on the other hand, has yet to move on those proposals.
