Ramaswami: It’s been raining for three days straight in Rajasthan’s Rawatsar. Local reports say the 15-20 mm rainfall recorded is the highest ever for the month of March. For farmers whose crops are ready for harvest, this unseasonal rainfall is not the only problem. Bhim, a marginal farmer in Gandheli tehsil, Hanumangarh district, is unable to enter his water-logged farm. Looking at his barley crops from a distance, he says, “Thankfully, the wind speed is normal and I can still save my crop, but only if I am able to arrange a combine harvester machine. It would just take a few hours to harvest my crop and everything would be okay.” Just like Bhim, farmers across north India, at this peak period of harvesting, are in urgent need of combine harvesters. However, during the national lockdown imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, there is no system in place for transporting these giant combine harvester machines that move across states.