Haryana Government on Thursday issued directions for easing in delivery of services related to agriculture during the COVID-19 triggered lockdown imposed till May 24 in the state.
A notification in this regard has been issued by the Haryana State Disaster Management Authority to the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners in the state. A spokesman said that it is reiterated that many activities related to agriculture and related activities are allowed in the guidelines pertaining to ‘Mahamari Alert- Surakhsit Haryana'.
The spokesperson said that all agriculture and horticulture activities including farming operations by farmers and farm workers infield, agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations and 'mandis' operational by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) or as notified by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Haryana (e.g., Satellite mandis) will remain fully functional.
He said that direct marketing operations by the State Government or by industry, directly from farmers or group of farmers, FPOs', co-operatives etc will remain fully functional.
Apart from this, the department concerned may promote decentralized marketing and procurement at the village level. Shops of agriculture machinery, its parts (including its supply chain) and repairs and ‘Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) ' related to farm machinery will also remain open.
The spokesperson further informed that manufacturing, distribution and retail of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds and movement (inter and intra state) of harvesting and sowing related machines like combined harvester and other agriculture/horticulture implement will also remain functional.
He further said that fisheries activities including operations of fishing (marine and inland) or aquaculture industry, including feeding and maintenance, harvesting, processing, packaging, cold chain, sale and marketing, hatcheries, feed plants, commercial aquaria will also remain functional.