Strawberry farmers feel `lockdown` heat as season set to end

COVID-19 is also affecting fruits and vegetables crops amid lockdown. The strawberry crop is also feeling the heat as farmers are not able to take the fruit to the ‘mandis’ due to the lockdown. According to a farmer, they started seed sowing in the month of October which continues to grow till May but due to the lockdown and the hailstorm they are incurring loss. Strawberry farmers are destroying their crops over a lack of demand and the distortion of the supply chain due to lockdown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 03 to curb the spread of COVID-19. Uttar Pradesh has 1509 COVDI-19 positive cases and the dread virus has claimed 21 lives in the state.