To curb pollution, agro-scientists demand ban on straw reapers

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, September 16

To ensure eco-friendly management of paddy straw, progressive farmers and scientists have demanded a ban on the use of straw reapers.

At a seminar organised by the local unit of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development here, agro-scientists, representatives of farmers’ unions and progressive farmers were of the view that the government must ban the use of reapers in paddy fields during October and November to help control air pollution. Normally, the farmers use reaper machines to cut the standing straw and they burn it later.

Nirmal Singh Manuke, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Kadiyan), said the farmers use stubble shaver or reaper because it’s an easy and cheap process in the absence of any stringent law to check the practice. It also increases dust particles in the air.

The air pollution situation becomes alarming after paddy harvesting starts in October every year. However, no good alternative has come up, so far, without putting an extra financial burden on small and marginal farmers.

The farmers have been demanding a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal for straw management in an eco-friendly manner. The poor farmers, who are already debt-ridden and are committing suicide, cannot afford to spend huge amounts on straw management.

Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Plant Protection Officer of Moga, who is an award-winning agro-scientist, said: “Decomposing straw in soil returns most of the nutrients and helps conserve it for a longer period and reduces the growth of weeds during the fallow period”.