Farm sector grows by 5.9% in Q4 of 2019-20; future uncertain due to Covid

As the data relates to pre-Covid lockdown period it does not reflect the real picture of distress which unfolded from April onwards in the sector

Despite dismal overall economic growth last year, India’s agriculture and allied activities registered an impressive 5.9 per cent growth in the fourth quarter (January to March) of the previous fiscal. More importantly; the growth at current prices was expected to be around 13 per cent in same period, which translates into an inflationary impact of around 7.4 per cent.

The difference between agriculture GVA in current and constant prices, which according to some experts gives a broad idea of how farmers’ incomes are moving stood at 7.1 per cent in fourth quarter of last year, up from 5 per cent