Govt Exempts Farming, Farm Workers, Mandis, CHC from Lockdown Rules; Harvesting to continue Uninterrupted

To ensure the harvesting of Rabi Crops in the coming days amid the nationwide lockdown, the centre has decided to exempt farmworkers as well as manufacturing and packaging units of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds from the lockdown order. As per the report, 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.

Fertiliser shops and custom hiring centres of farm machinery have also been allowed to function during the lockdown period, it said.

Govt Granted Relaxation to Agriculture-farming and Allied Activities

As per the report, the government has granted relaxation in the nationwide lockdown for activities related to agriculture-farming and allied activities with a view to addressing problems being faced by the farming community. This will also ensure uninterrupted harvesting of crops. In this regard the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar has expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah.

Keeping in view the demands of farmers and concerned organisations and at the directions of the Prime Minister, the Union Government urgently considered and sympathetically examined the issue, following which a practical solution was arrived at in the interest of farmers and related communities.

The Union Home Ministry has issued the second Addendum to the Guidelines related to the nationwide lockdown issued vide its Order No.40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 24^th & 25^th March 2020 in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 10(2)(I) of the Disaster Management Act with the Chairperson, National Executive Committee. 

This will also allow unhindered harvesting of crops. The Agriculture Minister has complimented the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for the exception granted to agriculture and allied activities.

The Following Categories have been exempted from the Lockdown:

Under the 2^nd Addendum issued by the Union Home Ministry the following categories have been exempted from the lockdown:

1. Agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations;

2. ‘Mandis’ operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee or as notified by the State Government;

• Farming operations by farmers and farmworkers in the field;

1. ‘Custom Hiring Centres (CHC)’ related to farm machinery;

2. Manufacturing and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seed; &

3. Intra and Inter-State movement of harvesting and sowing related machines like combined harvester and other agriculture/horticulture implements

This decision has been taken with a view to facilitating unhindered activities related to agriculture and farming so as to ensure essential supplies to the common man and that the farmers and common people do not face any difficulty during the lockdown. Government of India has issued necessary directions to the concerned Ministries/Departments and designated officials of the States and UTs.