Officials of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttarkashi combating to prevent COVID -19

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttarkashi, situated at Chinyalisaur town, is the entry gate of Uttarkashi district. In the wake of COVID-19, KVK Uttarkashi, since 13th March, 2020, has initiated various awareness campaigns amongst the farmers, local residents and the officials of the district Uttarkashi. The officials of KVK Uttarkashi are providing their services as COVID-19 fighters with District Administration, District Disaster Management Agency and Health Department. The In-charge of KVK Uttarkashi, Dr. Pankaj Nautiyal has been appointed as the Nodal Officer of Static Surveillance Team for screening people entering into the district from outside. Dr. Nautiyal along with KVK officials are meticulously rendering their services to protect the district from affected people. The team of KVK, in collaboration with state health officials have screened more than 4000 people intended to enter Uttarkashi district. Fresh arrivals in the district were also advised to undertake all necessary precautions, maintain social distancing and contact their nearest health facilities in case of any suspicion.

Apart from this, following steps were undertaken to promote awareness and support to the farmers of the district by KVK officials:

         

          In-charge along with officials of KVK, Uttarkashi performing duties as Static Surveillance team, COVID-19

Sensitized about the precautions from COVID-19 - Precautionary information was disseminated to numerous farmers of District Uttarkashi and adjoining district Tehri Garhwal via personal calls, Whatsapp groups and other social media channels.

         

          Precautions from COVID-19

Dissemination of advisory sent by ICAR/ Govt. Of India: The advisory received from ICAR/ Govt. of India for the farmers was communicated amongst farmers of the district, in collaboration with line departments and the NGOs working with farming communities, for necessary actions.

Installation of Aarogya Setu App: The web link of Aarogya Setu App developed by Govt. of India was forwarded to the farmers and motivated them to install the app on their phones. The link was sent to the farmers through Whatsapp groups. After sending the messages the personal calls were made to the respective farmers and persuaded them to install the app. The farmers were also motivated to install the Arogya Setu app in the mobiles of their fellow farmers so that we could make us self aware about the spread of COVID-19.

         

          Aarogya Setu app installed by Farmers

Input availability: The farmers were provided with the seeds of French bean, okra and seedlings of tomato, brinjal under the NICRA and PKVY project run by KVK Uttarkashi. Some farmers and policemen were provided the seedlings of marigold for flower production, so that farmers could earn a good amount during upcoming the Char Dham Yatra season

         

Advisory on Weather: Advisory through m-kisan portal and other social media channels were provided to the farmers due to sudden changes in weather. Management of water logging condition in standing crop of wheat and lentil was advised during rainfall. Management of pest and disease like infestation of aphid in fruit crops and Stemphylium bight in onion was communicated to the farmers.

Preparations towards the harvest of Rabi crops: Farmers were advised to harvest Rabi season crop in the district by the end of April or first week of May on account of predictions of unexpected rainfall and fall in temperature in the district.

         

          Media Coverage of KVK, Uttarkashi advisory, during lockdown

The officials of KVK, Uttarkashi are striving and combating COVID-19 as Corona Warriors during the lockdown period, by preventing entry of suspected case and, tracing and isolating new entries in the district to avert corona epidemic in the district. The outcome of this extraordinary effort is that, till date no corona positive case has been reported in the district. The sincere efforts of Corona Warriors of KVK Uttarkashi were appreciated by District Administrations, Health Department and other social organizations working in the district.