The state agriculture development, farmer’s welfare and bio-technology department on Thursday advised farmers not to harvest standing crop with their hands in view of the coronavirus (COVID-19) scare, and instead use machines for harvesting.
In an order issued, the agriculture department advised that machine-run devices must be used in harvesting of crops.
The machines too should be washed properly with soap and water and social distancing must be followed while harvesting the crop, it said.
The agriculture experts further said that while cutting the crop and during meals, a distance of at least 5 meters should be maintained.
The machine used by any person, should not be reused by another, without adequate disinfecting the machine with soap and water, the experts said.
The clothes worn should also be washed properly with soap and should be properly dried in sunlight before the next use, the advisory said.
The farmers should also carry their own drinking water bottles with them and should not share their bottles with others or use someone else’s bottle, the experts warned.