‘Exempt sales and service of farm equipment from lockdown’

Farm machinery makers are in search of exemption from the lockdown to run their income and assistance centres to cater to the farmers’ necessity through the rabi harvest period.

Crops these types of as wheat and gram are all set for harvest across key components of North India.

The Centre has exempted farm inputs these types of as fertilisers, seeds and pesticides from lockdown. While the inter- and intra-State movement of farm machinery these types of as combines and harvesters, the implementation of the order is poor on the ground. “We are urging the Govt to think about inserting farm machinery in the exempt group and allow functions of income and assistance centres,” said Shenu Agarwal, CEO of Escorts’ Farm Machinery small business.

Farmers would have to have the will need of assistance centres to get their tractors and other gear fixed ahead of the harvest period. Any gear bought two many years in the past demands some maintenance or assistance. Moveover, gear these types of as threshers, which are utilised only through the harvest period, demands maintenance ahead of they could be place to use. Also, some farmers would like to obtain some new gear or spares to have our their harvest and the subsequent sowing functions, Agarwal said.

While States these types of as Haryana and Bihar have exempted farm machinery from lockdown, items are various on the ground. As a result, folks are not permitted to run their income and assistance centres. “We are seeking to ask for the neighborhood authorities in these States to allow the sale and assistance of farm gear,” Agarwal said.