The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India is taking several measures to facilitate the farmers and farming activities at field level during the lockdown period. The updated status is given below:
Following exemptions were given by Government of India for agricultural operations keeping in view the harvesting and sowing season:
Agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations;
Farming operations by farmers and farm workers in the field;
‘Mandis’ operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee or as notified by the State Government;
‘Mandis’ include direct marketing, facilitated by the State Government/UT Administration, directly from the farmers/groups of farmers. FPOs, Cooperatives, etc;
Shops for Seeds, Fertilisers and Pesticides;
Manufacturing and packaging units of Seeds, Fertilisers and Pesticides;
Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) related to farm machinery;
Intra and inter-state movement of harvesting and sowing related machines like combined harvester and other agriculture/ horticulture implements;
Cold storage and warehousing services;
Manufacturing units of packaging material for food items;
Transportation for essential goods;
Shops of agriculture machinery, its spare parts (including its supply chain) and repairs.
Tea industry, including plantation with maximum of 50% workers.
The Agriculture Minister along with Ministers of State (Agriculture) formally launched the All India Agri Transport Call Centre today. This Call Centre has been set up for coordination between States for inter-state movement of perishables like vegetables < fruits, agri inputs like seeds, pesticides and fertilizer etc. The Call Centre numbers are 18001804200 and 14488. These numbers are accessible from any mobile or landline phones.
Truck drivers, traders, retailers, transporters or any other stakeholders who are facing problems in inter-state movement of above commodities, may seek help by calling at the Call Centre. Call Center Executives will forward the vehicle