Expert Advisory Details

For prevention of Corona virus Guidelines given for Harvesting Crops

The harvesting of crops is going to begin soon, and the following instructions are being given to farmers for protecting the people during the harvest and to prevent the spread of the virus:

• Keep in mind that most of the harvesting should be done with agricultural machinery.
• it is advised that the machinery operators should sanitize themselves and the machine  to prevent the spread of the corona virus. if the harvesting is done manually the hand tools should be sanitized / cleaned with soap 3 to 5 times.
• The tool used by one person should not be used by another.
• The distance between two individuals should be strictly followed during harvesting of crop ,for example while taking meal individuals should have at least 3 meters distance between them. Everyone should keep their utensils separate and rinse thoroughly with soap and water after use.
• Each Combine Harvester should not be operated by more than 2 to 5 persons.
• Do not wear the cloths used during the harvest without washing. 
• Everyone should have a separate food and drink arrangement.
• Use masks and gloves during the harvest of crop. The head of the harvester should also be properly covered.
• Harvesters must be issued the necessary passes so that they could not face any obstacles during the operation. Harvester should be provided with helpline numbers of health workers and police for emergencies.
• A person with fever, headache/body ache/cold/cough symptoms should be isolated from work place and notified to the health worker.
• These instructions above should be followed during the threshing operation. Finally, it is important that after harvesting with Combine Harvester the straw should not be burnt in the fields as it creates pollution as well as health problems.straw  burning is a crime in itself. The straw can be used as fodder for animals  and burning of straw reduces livestock fodder.
• Required machines during the harvest and threshing should be exempted during lock down for repair.

The above rules should be strictly followed.