After exemption of agriculture-farming and allied activities from the lockdown rule, the union home ministry has issued a fresh guideline for farmers for their safety while working in their farm. "They have been exempted under the Disaster Management Act, with respect to the 21- day lock-down," a union home ministry order stated.
As per the report, the centre has also decided to exempt farmworkers as well as manufacturing and packaging units of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds from the lockdown order. The government has also exempted Mandis, procurement agencies, farm operations, Agri machinery hiring centres as well as intra- and inter-state movement of farm implements, according to the latest directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Farmers will have to follow all these instructions during harvesting so that they can be protected from COVID-19 (COVID-19):
Maintain Social Distancing during Harvesting
As rabi harvesting likely to pick up in the coming days, the government's agri-research body ICAR on Saturday asked farmers to follow social distancing and safety precaution while handling farm machines and labour in the field. For tackling any emerging issue related to managing crops, livestock and fisheries, farmers should consult and be in touch with agri-scientists in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR research institutes and state agricultural universities for timely advisories, it said.
Sanitize Agricultural Equipment
The farmers have been instructed to harvest the crops only with machine-operated equipment. If they are using such devices which are operated with hands, then they need to pay considerable attention. In such a situation, farmers should sanitize the equipment before using it. This sanitization should be done at least 3 times a day. Farmers can use soap water to sanitize the equipment.
Set the food utensils aside
Farmers or labourers working in the fields eat food, keep the food utensils separate and away. With this, after eating the food, clean the utensils thoroughly with soap. Also, keep your water bottles or utensils separate and do not let anyone use them.
Farmers keep washing hands during harvesting
During harvesting, farmers keep their hands thoroughly cleaned with soap from time to time.
Do not use worn clothes again
Also, during the harvesting work, farmers should not wear the same clothes again. Wash clothes should be worn during work and wear it again only after drying.