Odisha Govt Launches Helpline For Farmers, No Passes Required For Vehicles Carrying Agricultural Goods

Bhubaneswar: Amid COVID-19 lockdown, the Odisha government on Tuesday launched 18001025166 helpline to provide advisory and technical assistance to farmers in the state.

Briefing the media, Agriculture secretary Saurabh Garg said that no passes are required for vehicles engaged in transportation of agricultural goods and produce during the extended lockdown period.

Inter and Intra state movement of such vehicles have been exempted from restrictions.

“The outlets for sale of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers and pesticides have been allowed to remain open for specific period in the day. They have been advised to ensure availability and sale of inputs by maintaining social distancing,” he said.

Garg further said that workshops of repairing of farm machineries have been allowed to remain open.

Manufacturing unit, storage houses, wholesalers/retailers of dealers of different farm equipments have been allowed to remain open.

“The state has taken steps for procurement of Rabi produce like green gram, black gram, groundnut and sunflower for which procurement centres have been opened,” he said.

Farmers have been advised to enroll their name in e-Samrudhi portal of NAFED.

“Registration of farmers on NAFED e-portal will enable farmers to get the minimum support price,” he added.