Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Income of Apple Growers in Kashmir: An Empirical Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic caused serious disruptions to all economic activities across the globe. Besides other sectors that were significantly affected, production and marketing of agricultural products particularly horticulture remained among the seriously hit. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented by the government to prevent its spread on the farm income of apple growers in Kashmir. The study is based on primary data collected from farmers of the Southern districts of Kashmir Valley by adopting convenience sampling. Partial least square- structural equation modelling was employed to analyze the data using SmartPLS. The study found that fear of Covid-19 and the lockdown strongly affected workforce availability, market prices, and distribution channel management. However, the impact of the lockdown on apple production was found to be insignificant. The study also found that production, workforce availability, market prices, and distribution channel management significantly influenced the income of apple growers. The reason is self-inhibition towards buying, unless extremely necessary. Moreover, the produce lying in the cold chains was sold at cheaper prices due to the unavailability of potential buyers and disturbance in the distribution system. The results of the study can help policymakers in taking preventive measures without sacrificing the livelihood of families associated with horticulture.