LAST year’s March lockdown was especially hard on fig farmers in the Ballari district of Karnataka. With 1,800 hectares of fig orchards, the district tops fruit production in the state. The sudden lockdown coincided with summer, a satisfying time for farmers since it is their peak harvesting season. Instead, farmers stared at ruin.
With no transport available, plucked fruits couldn’t be sent for sale. Figs have a very short shelf-life of two to three days. As a result, several tonnes of fruit rotted in the next few months. Each farmer lost lakhs of. . .
