Hike in diesel price hits paddy straw mgmt drive

Straw management becomes a costly affair for farmers

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 3

The diesel price, which crossed the Rs100 mark, has hit the state government’s drive to prevent stubble burning, as straw management has become a more costly affair for farmers. However, the officials of the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare claimed that more farmers were adopting zero-tillage techniques such as happy seeder and super seeder with the price hike of diesel.

As per the official data, only 1,275 cases of stubble burning have been reported so far in the district. Last year, 2,039 cases were reported till the same time. However, the delay in harvesting due to unfavourable weather conditions is one of the major reasons behind the less number of fire incidents reported.

Following the upcoming elections and ongoing farm agitation, government agencies are reportedly ignoring the violation by farmers. This year, FIRs were being registered against violators.

While farmers claimed that with the hike in diesel price several farmers who had adopted straw management techniques during last years, started burning stubble again. The straw management or formation of bales cost Rs3,000 per acre.

“Farmers don’t have any viable option for straw management in fields. The price of diesel is also discouraging farmers. This year, wheat cultivation is getting delayed. Farmers don’t have time to manage straw,” said Gurpreet Singh, a farmer from Khankot village.

Jatinder Singh Gill, Chief Agriculture Officer, said: “We found that more farmers are adopting happy seeder and super seeder technology to sow wheat crop without tillage. They don’t burn paddy straw in fields and it reduces cost of cultivation too. The number of fire spots have also reduced in the district.”