Protect farmers from Covid-19 fallout Experts from 6 Asian countries for implementing adequate agrarian, social security reforms Staff Correspondent Staff Correspondent Experts and researchers from six Asian countries have called for implementing agrarian and social security reforms to protect farmers from the adverse impacts of Covid-19. They made the call at an international webinar yesterday. The event, titled "Ensuring land and food rights at a time of Covid-19 and beyond", was organised jointly by Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and The Daily Star. In his keynote presentation, eminent researcher Antonio B Quizon touched upon issues like increased rural indebtedness forces small farmers to sell off their homes and farmlands; agrarian reforms have slowed down as government's priorities have been shifted elsewhere; agricultural workers are not being properly paid; and pastoralist communities and indigenous people have been impacted as national borders have been closed.