Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on agriculture in a rainfed region in India: Lessons for dealing with natural and economic shocks

On March 25, 2020, India imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb COVID-19, affecting agricultural operations in northern Karnataka’s rainfed districts. A survey of 1004 households revealed that 64% faced challenges accessing inputs, credit, and transport. In Bidar, 54% of respondents struggled with input supply disruptions, compared to 12% in Raichur. Additionally, 29% of respondents in Bidar and 33% in Raichur reported issues with timely credit access. These impacts varied by region, landholding, and social category. The study highlights the need for increased public agricultural expenditure, better technological tools, and strengthened supply chains and market access to mitigate such disruptions in the future.