Principles of harvesting and processing saffron in corona conditions
The head of horticulture of Mashhad Jihad-e-Keshavarzi said: Saffron has a special role and position in Mashhad city and it is necessary to observe preventive issues and health protocols and personal hygiene to prevent the spread of corona during harvesting and filling of saffron flowers.
Mohammad Jafari stated: Activities related to harvesting, preparing, drying and packing saffron due to the type of work, require a lot of manpower and due to the short time frame and high work pressure, some of these measures are performed in closed environments. The observance of health protocols to prevent the spread of the epidemic virus should be considered.
He added: Saffron flower harvest workers should be justified by the owners before observing the farm to follow the hygienic instructions, and after resumption of harvesting, disinfect the hands completely and observe a social distance of two meters with the adjacent worker during harvest. Observe and family members and other workers to avoid touching saffron flower collection containers after harvest and before disinfecting the hands.
The head of horticulture of Mashhad Jihad-e-Keshavarzi said: the use of masks and disinfectant solution in collective work environments saffron harvest is mandatory and should be available to workers and any financial exchanges to buy and sell products should only be done using an electronic card and Avoid any use of banknotes in this regard.
Jafari continued: When separating the stigma or filling the saffron flower in the house, part of the windows of the rooms or halls of the place of activity should be kept open and the saffron flower should be prevented from contact with carpets, clothes, blankets and the like and the utensils used to separate the stigma after Rinse the dish thoroughly with dishwashing liquid and clean water to prevent children from coming into contact with saffron flowers.
He also called on saffron harvesters to refrain from releasing the petals and debris of this product in the living environment to prevent the possible spread of the corona epidemic virus, and not to leave them on the outskirts of villages and streets, and to carry out sanitary burial in the village and in cities. Collect garbage in a hygienic way and remove from the living environment.
Jafari said: By observing hygienic points in the flower harvesting stage, its possible contamination with the corona virus or various cold and seasonal flu viruses is prevented, and farmers and related workers can carry out economic activities and harvest and process saffron.
According to the public relations report of Khorasan Razavi Agricultural Jihad, he added: These cases prevent the transmission of contamination through saffron flowers to family members or workers who work in the field of harvesting flower stigmas or filling saffron.