Straw Mgmt System attachment mandatory on combine harvesters

Manmeet Singh Gill

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 18

In the next paddy-harvesting season, the administration will not allow the use of old-technique combine harvesters, which do not have a Straw Management System (SMS) attached to them.

District administration officials stated that as there is still time left for harvesting, the combine owners can get this attachment fitted on their combine harvesters.

The SMS system attached to combine harvesters enables the machine to shred the straw in small pieces and scatter it behind the tail of the machine. Agricultural experts stated that it would help in checking the burning of crop residue by farmers as they would be able to sow wheat using a happy seeder without having to bury the residue to clear the fields.

The government had earlier put on hold the registration of new combine harvesters which did not have the SMS attachment. The order disallowing old machines to operate without the SMS attachment has troubled combine harvester owners, as they stated that they would have to spend around Rs 1 lakh on getting the attachment fixed.

“There already are a number of farm implements such as mulchers and choppers used for mixing the crop residue in soil. The new attachment would not only slow down the speed of the harvesters, but also increase fuel consumption. This would directly have an effect on per acre charges for harvesting, which would be borne by the farmers,” said a local combine owner, Rawel Singh.

Following the National Green Tribunal dictates on crop-residue burning, the government has introduced many machines besides an awareness campaign along with a provision of punitive measures against the violators. However, due to lack of awareness on the part of farmers, and lack of will on the part of government officials, the tendency to burn the residue is still predominant.

The agricultural officials stated that the Super Straw Management System attached to the combines is the most suitable measure adopted so far, as it would help in saving time and diesel, used in baler, mulcher or chopper machines.

The Chief Agricultural Officer, Dr Dalbir Singh Chinna, said, “The small scattered pieces of straw after harvesting would help in retaining moisture for a longer period. It would become possible for farmers to use happy seeder machines easily. Besides, if someone wants to use the old sowing machines, the small pieces can be mixed in soil with just one harrowing.”