New guidelines for all agriculture and related activities that can restart from April 20

• All agricultural and horticultural activities will resume and create jobs for daily wagers.
  
• Select industries in rural areas can also resume their operation, with strict social distancing rules.
  
• This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide coronavirus lockdown by another 19 days till May 3.

As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise, the Indian government today released guidelines for selective relaxation of the lockdown, starting April 20. Even as the nationwide lockdown was extended till May 3, rural and agricultural development will see a breather.

And, it is not just farming alone. Even industries that operate in rural areas including food processing and construction can be resumed. Added to that, Indian rural daily wagers will get relief as all MNREGA related activities will resume. The priority will be given to irrigation projects and water conservation activities.

“These activities will create job opportunities for rural labour, including the migrant labor force," say the guidelines released by the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, all these relaxations come with a rider that strict social distancing is to be enforced. These relaxations will be revoked immediately if any signs of Corona spread is seen, Modi said in his speech yesterday (April 15).

Here is the list of guidelines that affect the millions of rural Indians affected by the lockdown.

• All agricultural and horticultural activities will resume and create jobs for daily wagers. Select industries in rural areas can also resume their operation, with strict social distancing rules.
• All agencies engaged in agricultural-related activities will be allowed to open.
• All the mandis by Agricultural Produce Market Committee or as notified by the state/UT government can also operate from April 20. Farmers are also allowed to participate in direct marketing operations.
• All the shops of agricultural machinery including others which sell spare parts and repairs can also open.
• Manufacturing, distribution and retail of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds are also permitted.
• The new guidelines also allow the supply of milk, milk products, poultry and livestock farming and tea, coffee and rubber plantations.

See also: Coronavirus cases in India state wise