Curbing farm fires in district’s veggie belt a herculean task

With the harvesting of short-duration paddy varieties underway in vegetable belt of the district, the administration is having a tough time in tackling farm fires.

So far, 32 incidents of stubble burning have been reported only from these areas, where farmers have been clearing their fields of crop residue to sow vegetables due to a limited window.

Officials said the situation was worrisome as farmers cultivating vegetables required a quick turnaround time to prepare the land.

Unlike wheat, which can be sown after some gap, vegetables such as cauliflower, peas and potatoes must be planted almost immediately after harvesting paddy.

This compulsion is driving growers to resort to residue burning as it’s the fastest and cheapest method of clearing fields.

The administration has appealed to farmers to use happy seeders, rotavators and mulchers to manage crop residue.

Officials said subsidies were being provided on these machines and awareness campaigns had been launched to highlight the environmental damage caused by farm fires.

“We are making every effort to guide farmers. Teams are visiting villages on daily basis to spread awareness about penalties and the availability of machinery,” said an Agriculture Officer.

Farmers said the cost of hiring machines and shortage of equipment during peak season makes it difficult for them to follow the guidelines.

“We cannot afford delays. If we miss the sowing window for vegetables, our income will suffer,” said a farmer from the Jandiala area.

Another farmer Harman Singh said, “Sometimes farmers sow vegetable crop on the same day after harvesting paddy. Alternative measures require a lot of time and resources.” He said farmers burned paddy residue as it’s the cheapest and quickest way.

As a result, the administration has intensified monitoring in sensitive areas and warned of strict action against violators.

Yet, striking a balance between farmers’ livelihood and environmental protection continues to be the biggest challenge.