With harvesting machines being exempted from lockdown during the Covid-19 outbreak, the state is ready for the annual wheat harvest. Giving information in this regard, Dr Manjit Singh, Head, Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, PAU, said in order to ensure a safe harvest season, PAU experts have issued the following guidelines for cleaning and sanitisation of the farmers/manpower and machines being operated.
Farmers should practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces of agricultural machines/tools like harvesting sickle, controls of tractors and combine like steering, throttle lever, gear shifting leavers, seat and mirror, feeding hoppers of threshers, machine hitch point, sprayer lance etc. through two stages process.Stage 1: Cleaning of machinery with detergent, water and sodium hypochlorite (1%) (3-step process):
- Prepare a solution using detergent with water and apply on the required surfaces by using any available sprayer like portable knapsack sprayer preferably battery operated or whichever is available having fine spray/mist. (For large areas like machinery sheds, high capacity Aero blast or Orchard Sprayer may be more appropriate).
- Apply clean water on the surface. Wait for 10 minutes to dry.
- Again clean the area by using sodium hypochlorite (1%) solution or bleach solution in recommended dose.
- Electric parts of tractor, combine should be covered with polythene during this stage.
Stage 2: Disinfecting the most frequently used surface
The most frequently touched surfaces like steering wheel, throttle lever, gear shifting levers and mirror, feeding hoppers of threshers etc. should be wiped with alcohol-based rub/spirit rub.
According to Dr Singh, farmers should follow the Do’s and Don’ts recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
“Proper protection clothes like gloves and mask should be mandatory throughout the field operation. The water bottles kept for use during field operations should be kept in a bag and should not be shared with anyone,” he said. Minimum number of healthy persons should be seated on the tractor or combine and at a maximum possible distance, he added.
Farmers/workers should regularly wash their hands with soap or detergent/disinfectant and avoid frequent touching of eyes, noses and mouth during work. Another very important precaution is that farmers/workers should not spit in the public.
This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds
Source: The Tribune
