13 Sangrur villages show stubble management skills

At a time when Sangrur district is witnessing a surge in the cases of stubble burning, 13 villages have shown the way in crop residue management. - File photo

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 11

At a time when Sangrur district is witnessing a surge in the cases of stubble burning, 13 villages have shown the way in crop residue management. These villages have achieved the distinction of sowing 50 per cent crop without burning stubble in the last season. Authorities are hopeful that the progressive villages will surpass the 50 percent mark in the current sowing season.

Daljinder Singh, farme

50% shunned malpractice

I have not burnt stubble for past many years on my 17 acres. During the last sowing season, around 50 per cent farmers of our village did not burn stubble.

“I have not burnt stubble for past many years on my 17 acres. With the help of latest equipment, I have been sowing paddy and other crops without burning the residue. In the last sowing season, around 50 per cent farmers of our village did not burn stubble,” says Daljinder Singh, a farmer from Chathe Nakte village.

Special teams of the Agriculture Department and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kheri, have been visiting almost all villages of the district to convince farmers not to burn stubble. The data shared by officials show in Chathe Nakte, Mard Khera, Kanoi, Mauran , Bhamabadi, Basiarkh, Sheron, Khetla, Bhalwan, Panjgrain, Hariou, Mahasingh Wala and Dyalpur Channa villages more than 50 per cent farmers have not burnt stubble in the last sowing season. “We have saved around Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per acre through direct seeding rice (DSR) technique.” said Gurwinder Singh, a farmer from Kanoi village. Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal said many farmers were responding well to their requests.

“We are hopeful that the 13 villages will better their performance in the current sowing season and more villages will follow the suit in adopting the best practices in the crop residue management,” said Grewal. However, many farmers have expressed their helplessness in burning stubble in the absence of any financial help from the authorities.

“We do not have money to purchase the required equipment to manage stubble. Farmers can shun stubble burning only after getting the financial help from the government,” says Kartar Singh, another farmer.

Deputy Commissioner Ramvir said they were trying their best to reach out to farmers and provide them the subsidy needed for stubble management, besides convincing them to do away with the malpractice.