The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Navi Mumbai reopened today, after it had to be closed last Monday owing to spike in COVID-19 positive cases in the APMC.

Of the five markets on the APMC Turbhe premises, Vegetables, food grains and Masala markets started today. Despite, Maharashtra government extending lockdown till May 31, quite a few relaxations have been made in non-containment zones across state. Meanwhile, the State Medical Education & Drug Department has said the state government has approved the formation of a task force which will give recommendations to the Govt to incorporate AYUSH treatment modalities specifically for increasing immunity against COVID19.

So far, a total 238 trucks have arrived at the APMC including 92 vehicles carrying vegetables and 146 trucks with spices. While 194 vehicles carrying essential items have seen sent to various markets from here. Traders and buyers are being screened at the gate using temperature gun and oxymetre. However, it is feared that the APMC might find it tough to function normally as over 5000 migrant workers working here have already left for their hometowns fearing COVID19 infection. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) in last 10 days, has transported over 2 lakh migrant workers to the borders of their respective home states. The corona warrior state transport bus drivers and administration worked day and night and transported the migrants through over 15,000 buses.

In other news, Jammu and Kashmir, Agriculture Production Department has been taking various steps to reach-out to the farmers in Kashmir to ensure that the agriculture activity carried out unhindered during the lockdown situation. The department has started 24x7 helpline to answer the queries of farmers by a dedicated team of experts to ensure that every farmer and grower can access to credible and accurate information regarding different field crops and other agriculture activities on ground.

As farmers usually start sowing of seeds in the month of March and April,  the Agriculture Department in Kashmir normally distributes seeds and seedlings among the farmers among the farmers through division and district level officers but during the prevailing crisis, the department has taken up distribution of seeds by home delivery and this practice would continue to minimise the movement of farmers. Meanwhile, under the campaign, "Aayein Sabzee Ugayein" , Department of Agriculture in Kashmir has distributed seedlings for "Kitchen Garden" among the public at Lalmandi in Srinagar.  This campaign is aimed to ensure that the growers and public in general make good use of spaces and benefit from produce of vegetables in these extraordinary circumstances.  The department is committed to promote Kitchen Garden Scheme and provide quality vegetable seedlings to the growers for fulfilling the domestic requirements.