Now I'll reveal what a city girl I am: Until a little while ago, I didn't realize how much farmers the COVID-19 pandemic has affected farmers. The same things that have caused people in other businesses and professions to lose work and income are causing distress to the growers of our food: lockdowns, disrupted supply chains and labor shortages.
It seems that all of those factors have been exacerbated in India. In contrast to that of nations like the United States where corporate agribusiness dominates, agriculture in India is still in the hands of family-owned and other small farms. They depend on seasonal migrations of laborers to the countryside. Moreover, many farmers have no Internet access. So they obtain credit, supplies and equipment mainly through face-to-face transactions.
COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted the flow of workers--and closed banks, shops and other businesses. That cut off their credit and their access to all sorts of other necessities. And, unlike large farms that own tractors and such, most small farmers in India rent their equipment. With rental shops closed, Nagaraj and Alex Pandian could not get even basic equipment to till their father's field.
After losing last year's crops, they had no choice but to try again. "This land is all we have," said Alex. "We cannot sell it." They decided to plant Sammangi flowers, used in garlands for temple offerings. And, to till the fields, Nagaraj appropriated the only piece of machinery in his household: his 11-year-old son's bicycle.
From the photo, it looks as if the front wheel and fork, cranks and saddle were removed, some sort of device with a blade was attached to the seat post, and the bike was flipped over before a harness was attached to it.
Dhanacheziyan, who says he "loves to farm," was happy to help. To help his father, "I hold the press" and his father "pulls the plough."
I hope that they have a harvest that allows them to make it through this year. I also wish future prosperity to them--and that Dhanacheziyan can use his bicycle as a bicycle again!
