NEW DELHI, 3 April 2020: The Indian ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) had sent an advisory to all States regarding granting of exception to Agricultural operations from lockdown restrictions to fight COVID-19, keeping in mind the harvesting and sowing season. (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1608644).
[Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an addendum to the guidelines, and subsequent addendum, to all Ministries/Departments (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1608173), regarding the Nationwide lockdown to fight Corona Virus.]
With this advisory, exceptions have been allowed for farming operations by farmers and farm workers, procurement of agricultural productions, operation of Mandis, movement of harvesting and sowing related machinery etc.
In order to re-emphasize the exceptions, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has written to all State Chief Secretaries to ensure that exceptions w.r.t. farming operations, allowed under 21-day lockdown, be communicated to all field agencies. Smooth harvesting and sowing operations, while maintaining Social Distancing, need to be ensured, the advisory states.
