Farmers being advised not to burn paddy stubble: Experts

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, November 2

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Mansa, is toiling hard to impress upon farmers not to burn paddy stubble before sowing the next crop.

To make farmers aware of the disadvantages of burning paddy stubble, the KVK has decided to target small and marginal farmers to make them aware of the drawbacks of stubble burning by holding exhibitions of direct paddy sowing, publicity and organising camps. As per a note issued on Friday, Assistant Director, KVK, Khokhar Khurd, Dr Gurjinderpal Singh Sodhi said farmers were being encouraged to adopt the natural way of farming by using Happy Seeder.

He said farmers were advised not to burn paddy stubble as it left a deleterious impact on the soil and crop. “The KVK has dispatched Happy Seeders to make farmers of four villages aware of the appropriate usage of the machine to get rid of stubble burning. Experts from the kendra will teach the technique of direct sowing to farmers on 500 acres of agricultural land,” said Sodhi. He said they had adopted two villages, Makha and Burj Dhillwan, in Mansa district for the purpose.

Sodhi said the KVK had got an immense response from farmers over the use of this technique and their experts had received a large number of queries in this regard from nearby villages. He said the KVK had initiated this project under the direct supervision of PAU, Ludhiana. He said before starting the exhibition in these villages, a direct dialogue had been initiated among villagers by holding seminars wherein they were made aware of bad consequences of burning wheat and paddy stubble.

He said farmers were informed about the financial burden of burning stubble in the form of extra pesticides as the friendly insects and nutrients were lost in the fire. He said a large number of villagers from Mansa district had come forward to take a pledge of not burning paddy stubble. He said farmers were told to share Happy Seeder machines collectively to avoid stubble burning.