Punjab and Haryana have put in place a slew of measures to tackle Covid-19 even as the rabi

procurement season begins

CHANDIGARH/BHATINDA: With the rabi procurement season beginning, Punjab and
Haryana are busy finalising the wheat acquisition process even as measures to contain the spread
of Covid-19 continue. Punjab has allowed combine harvesters to run for 13 hours a day and also
put in place a slew of measures to facilitate safe arrival of the produce in grain markets.

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Vendors stand outside a disinfectant tunnel which sprays hydrogen peroxide, a chemical
compound, at the entrance of a grain market in Chandigarh
read caption
Vendors stand outside a disinfectant tunnel which sprays hydrogen peroxide, a chemical
compound, at the entrance of a grain market in Chandigarh
Wheat was sown over 35 lakh hectare in Punjab and production is expected to be more than 170
lakh tonne, of which over 130 lakh tonne is likely to be procured by Centre. Apart from 1,820
purchase centres in the state, nearly 2,000 rice mills have also been notified as temporary
purchase centres.
The state has issued instructions for staggered procurement through token (pass) system by
limiting entry into grain markets. The Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and
arhtiyas (commission agents) will issue passes to farmers to take produce to mandis on
designated days. The validity of pass issued to a farmer will be for carrying one trolley of wheat
not exceeding 50 quintal.

Farmers sort their wheat crop during the lockdown. Wheat, maize, mustard, lentil, pulses and
millets are the main rabi crops that should be harvested by mid-April
read caption
Farmers sort their wheat crop during the lockdown. Wheat, maize, mustard, lentil, pulses and
millets are the main rabi crops that should be harvested by mid-April
Going by average yield of 20 quintal per acre, the limit of 50 quintal in a day is set for produce
from 2.5 acre, or 1 hectare of land, in one trip. Farmers having produce over 50 quintal will have
to make multiple entries into mandis and will need separate passes for every trip. Majority of the
numbers of farmers in Punjab fall in the 2.5 acre category.
With 50 quintal per trolley limit, 26 lakh rounds of trolleys will have to be allowed to various
mandis of Punjab for procuring of 130 lakh tonne wheat. Farmers will have to carry original
passes issued by the market committee authorities for entry into mandi. They have been asked to
stick to one person per pass and maintain social distancing norms in mandis at all cost.
Farmer must practice social distancing during harvesting of crop
read caption
Farmer must practice social distancing during harvesting of crop
Haryana is also using a similar system via its “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal. It has warned
farmers that they would not be allowed to visit mandis or crop procurement centres if they are
not registered on the portal. The state government has asked deputy commissioners to ensure that
all farmers are registered, so that the mechanism, which has been set for their visit in the mandis,
can be followed properly.
In addition, the state has also asked for entry passes to be issued to farmers, staff, arhtiyas and
labourers visiting crop procurement centres in a systematic manner to avoid mass gathering at
these centres as well as mandis. They have also been told to keep a close watch on the entry and
exit points of the procurement centres to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Women cover their faces while harvesting the wheat crop
read caption
Women cover their faces while harvesting the wheat crop
Haryana chief secretary Keshni Anand Arora issued these directions while presiding over a
meeting of the crisis coordination committee held with officers appointed for Covid-19 through
video-conferencing. She directed that adequate sanitiser, masks and thermal scanners be
provided and social distancing norms followed strictly at each procurement centre.

Central govt advisory to farmers

After the central govt allowed certain exemptions to farmers for carrying out necessary farm
operations, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) issued advisory for harvesting
and threshing of the rabi (winter) crop, post-harvest storage and marketing of farm produce:

* For manual operations of harvesting/picking, farmers to accomplish operation in 4-5 feet

spaced strips, assigning one strip to one person

*People engaged in this to use masks and wash hands with soap at regular intervals

* Stagger field operations wherever possible and avoid engaging more number of persons on a
particular day

* Maintain safe distance of 3-4 feet during rest, during meals, transfer of produce at collection
point and unloading/loading
* Engage familiar people to avoid entry of a likely carrier during field activity

* Prefer mechanised operations over manual wherever feasible

* Sanitise machines at entry point and at regular intervals. Transport vehicles, gunny bags, other
packaging material to also be sanitised

Sanitise farm gear, check labour movement

With around 17,000 combine harvesters set to be used during the forthcoming wheat harvesting
exercise in Punjab, the agriculture department is concerned about the machinery coming in from
other states in wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
Since combine harvester operators will go from village to village, it will have to be ensured that
they are not allowed into villages and rest only in agricultural fields – away from the population.
Punjab’s agriculture secretary K S Pannu told TOI, “The agriculture department will ensure that
the combine harvesters, especially those coming in from outside Punjab, are properly sanitised
and the operators also take due precautions to check the spread of coronavirus.”
“Adequate amount of sanitisers will be made available with each combine so that it is properly
used when moving from one village to another and later at the end of the day. The parts of farm
implements that frequently come in human contact need to be properly sanitised,” he said.
Pannu added that as part of social distancing, the department would also ensure that those
operating the combine harvesters maintain distance from farmers and farm labourers in the
villages.
The mammoth exercise of wheat procurement in Punjab would begin from April 15, after a delay
of a fortnight due to the curfew. This time, the state will go for staggered procurement and
farmers will be issued coupons so that they approach the grain markets in small lots to avoid
overcrowding.

A health worker checks the temperature of everyone who enters the grain market in Chandigarh
read caption
A health worker checks the temperature of everyone who enters the grain market in Chandigarh
The number of purchase centres has also been increased manifold as the agriculture department
plans to use the premises of rice shellers in the state. As per the plan, a villager will not have to
travel for more than 1-2 km to reach a purchase centre.
Another official said that cleaning of the grain markets had already begun with marking being
done to ensure that procurement was carried out in an orderly matter. Even though some farmers’
organisations had suggested door-to-door procurement, the state government did not find the
idea feasible.
The neighbouring state of Haryana has already deployed its staff at 22 border check posts for
sanitisation of farm implements and medical check-up of manpower. Machines and manpower
will be allowed to move in only after clearance from the health department.
Inputs from Vibhor Mohan, Vishwa Mohan

How behavioural changes due to Covid-19 are transforming

Indian villages
Punjab
As many as1200 worksites under PMGSY are used as temporary shelters for migrant labourers with facilities of food, drinking water and
sanitation.

Covid-19 | Punjab villages close doors for

outsiders and “self-isolate”

Vikas Vasudeva
SOHANA, April 05, 2020 23:02 IST
Updated: April 05, 2020 23:06 IST
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Sohana village has closed its door for outsiders and gone into “self-quarantine” mode amid the
scare since March 31.  

Drug peddling in these villages has reduced significantly — an incidental but welcome
side-effect, says DGP

Standing agile at the entry point of his village, situated on the Chandigarh-Landra road, Sarvan
Kumar, 24, won’t let any outsider enter the village unless it’s an emergency — to ensure that the
deadly pandemic doesn’t enter his village.

Sohana village in Punjab’s Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district has closed its door for outsiders
and gone into “self-quarantine” mode amid the scare since March 31. “I am not literate but I
understand that the virus is contagious and could prove fatal. I understand that it can be
prevented by staying at a safe distance. With this at the back of my mind I have volunteered to
guard the village. There are several others like me in the village who are keeping vigil at
different entry-exit points to not let all those, who are not resident of the village, enter,” said Mr.
Sarvan, who works as a daily labourer.
“We are trying to make people understand and convey a message that it’s not a joke..people have
been taking it lightly,” he added.

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Ram, 21, points out that several youth are guarding the village day and night so that no outsider
can “sneak-in”. “We want everyone in the village to remain safe from this deadly disease, even if
we have to face some problems for a few days,” he said.

Sohana’s municipal councillor and former sarpanch (village head) Parvinder Singh told The
Hindu that after consultations with prominent people in the village it was decided that the entry
and exit should be restricted as many people were not taking the curfew seriously.

“We have deputed two to four volunteers at all the 22 entry-exit points across the village. We
request people to adhere to curfew and if anyone doesn’t then we inform the local police about
him or her. To ensure that no one faces shortage of food items, all the villagers have made
necessary arrangements to provide ‘essentials’ to those in need. In case there’s a medical
emergency we ensure that transportation etc is provided. Movement of essentials is being
ensured. Our aim is that the virus is kept at bay and secondly that no one is deprived of food,” he
said.

Sohana is not the only village which has gone into self-isolating mode — 7,842 of the 13,240
villages have done so.

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Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta interestingly said drug peddling in these villages has reduced
significantly due to the presence of the watchers — an incidental but welcome side-effect. “This
is because the villagers recognise one another and can immediately identify any trouble-makers,”
he said.

The Village Police Officers (VPOs), recently appointed by the Punjab police as part of its unique
‘One Cop for One Village’ scheme were playing a pivotal role in facilitating the self-isolation.

“The VPOs have become the bridge between the villagers and the supply chain of essential items
and urgent medical services,” he said.

Punjab: Sarpanch of Hara village in Pathankot district of Punjab has been

inspirational in taking potential measures to keep the Panchayat safe. She carried out
door to door campaign to explain to families on preventive measures for COVID-19.
She stitched face masks by herself. She closed roads linking other villages and made
check posts at all entry points to the village. The government school has been
converted into an isolation ward under the Sarpanch’s supervision.