(Image source from: marketwatch.com)

The coronavirus outbreak has brought the entire world to a standstill. The economy is the worst hit in all countries and everyone is striving for ways to survive. President Donald Trump announced a relief aid of $19 billion for the farmers who have been hit with the impacts of the pandemic.

This relief package program will include direct cash payments and mass purchases of produce, meat and the other products that the farmers indulge in.

While announcing the farm aid program, Trump stated saying, “These are great people, great Americans, never complain, never complain – just do what they have to do.” Out of the $19 billion, $16 billion is going to go into direct cash payments.

The US Department of Agriculture mentioned in a statement that they are going to collaborate with the regional and local distributors to purchase $3 billion worth fresh produce, meats and other products.

This decision came after the rising pressure from the US farm lobby after they reported to the government that the growers and ranchers are finding it extremely difficult to get their items to the market to sell them. They is forcing a few of them out of supplies as well.

In a report shared by Reuters, it was mentioned that the Department of Agriculture is going to work in order to spend around $15.5 billion in the first installment or the initial phase. This is going to be done to bolster the food supply chain of the country against the negative impacts of the outbreak. This is one of the biggest steps that the government is trying to take to ensure that there are no food shortages around.

Several of the beef and pork packing plants have shut down in US because of its employees being infected or dying because of the novel coronavirus. Even Smithfield Foods, which is one of the biggest pork processor reported that they are going to shut down one of their plants with the rising cases of Covid-19 in their employees.

By Somapika Dutta