Govt issues advisory to farmers in J&K

Srinagar, Apr 12 (PTK): Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has made an Advisory to farmers/growers pertaining to farming issues during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

According to Press Trust of Kashmir (PTK), as a follow up to this Advisory, the National Level Agro Advisory was prepared by ICAR and has been issued to farmers to cope during the lock down period due to COVID 19 mainly dovetailing the safety measures with current farming operations such as harvesting, Post Harvesting, Storage and marketing along with timely measures in standing field and horticulture crops.
General precautions and safety measures in harvesting, post harvest operations, storage and marketing of produce.

Follow the standard safety measures (SOCIAL DISTANCING) during the visit to market for the purchase of Inputs/ sale of produce.

Engage only the healthy persons to the extent possible and after reasonable enquiry as to avoid the entry of any suspect or likely carrier during field activity.

Persons engaged during field operations, should use masks and ensure hand washing with soap at reasonable intervals.

Maintain safe distance of 3-4 feet during rest, taking of meals, transfer of produce at collecting point, loading/unloading.

In case of manual field operations of harvesting/picking, accomplish the operation in 4-5 feet spaced strips assigning one strip to one person. This will ensure adequate spacing between the engaged labour.

Stagger the field operations where ever possible and avoid engaging more number of persons on the same day.

Prefer mechanized operations over the manual ones wherever feasible for which the farmers can avail the services of Customised Hiring Centres in their Vicinity. Only the essential number of persons should be allowed to accompany the machine.

All machines should be sanitized at the entry point and at regular intervals. All transport vehicles, gunny bags or other packaging material should also be sanitized.

The collection of the produce may be done in small heaps spaced at 3-4 feet and field level processing should be assigned to 1-2 persons per heap to avoid crowding.

In case the farm level storage is possible, avoid immediate rush to the market. (PTK)