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One Step Behind: The Government of India and Agricultural Policy During the Covid-19 Lockdown

Author

Listed:
  • Sudha Narayanan

    (Associate Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, sudha@igidr.ac.in)

  • Shree Saha

    (Research Associate, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, shree@igidr.ac.in)

Abstract

This paper reviews the Indian state’s response to the disruption in agri-food supply chains triggered by the lockdown as revealed in notifications pertaining to the agricultural sector. This paper contends that though many notifications and orders did not percolate to State and local-level administrative enforcement mechanisms, the greater problem was the absence of coordination between the Centre and States. Our analysis suggests that State Governments better managed the situation and in tackling many issues pertaining to agri-food supply chains, took action before the Centre did. The Centre’s actions were not only a step behind but also largely uncoordinated with State initiatives. This disjunction was not addressed, and the ensuing chaos was therefore unsurprising. This experience highlights the importance of better Centre–State coordination and offers lessons for both future emergencies and structural reform in agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Sudha Narayanan & Shree Saha, 2020. "One Step Behind: The Government of India and Agricultural Policy During the Covid-19 Lockdown," Journal, Review of Agrarian Studies, vol. 10(1), pages 111-127, January-J.
    • Handle: RePEc:fas:journl:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:111-127
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    Cited by:

    1. Lowe, Matt & Nadhanael, G.V. & Roth, Benjamin N., 2021. "India’s food supply chain during the pandemic," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    2. Kalle Hirvonen & Bart Minten & Belay Mohammed & Seneshaw Tamru, 2021. "Food prices and marketing margins during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from vegetable value chains in Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(3), pages 407-421, May.
    3. Francisco Ceballos & Samyuktha Kannan & Berber Kramer, 2021. "Crop prices, farm incomes, and food security during the COVID‐19 pandemic in India: Phone‐based producer survey evidence from Haryana State," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(3), pages 525-542, May.
    4. Goswami, Binoy & Mandal, Raju & Nath, Hiranya K., 2021. "Covid-19 pandemic and economic performances of the states in India," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 461-479.

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