Years on, no relief to farmers for shunning stubble-burning

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 20

Implanting the ban on the practice of stubble-burning seems to be a big challenge for the state government. Farmers are being offered subsidies for purchasing machines to mulch stubble on the top of the soil.

However, over 400 farmers, who have not been burning stubble for the past many years, have not received any incentive from the government, which can inspire others.

These farmers are involved in natural farming. They are not using any chemical fertiliser and pesticides. Besides, they are not burning the residue of their crop. Applying a holistic approach in agriculture, these farmers are returning to the earth whatever grows on it. They mulch paddy stubble or wheat straw in their field after harvesting to save the natural cycle of the ecological system.

“Every year, the Central Government spends thousands of crores on chemical fertiliser subsidies. But unfortunately, farmers, who have shifted to ecologically sustainable farming, have not received any subsidy, incentive or bonus,” said Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), Punjab.

About 400 farmers are involved in natural farming and some of them have not burnt stubble for the past two decades, said Dutt.

Setting an example, Vinod Jyani, a farmer from Katehra village in Fazilka, doing natural farming on about 125 acres for the past over 20 years.

“I am not using any chemical fertiliser or pesticide. I have never burnt stubble in my field, but no incentive has been given to me and many other farmers,” said Jyani.

“Had the state government given any incentive to the farmers, who are not availing any subsidy and are helping in maintaining ecological balance by not burning stubble, it would have encouraged many others to follow the paradigm,” said Amarjit Sharma, another natural farmer from Channa village of Jaito.

“Of 528 major districts in India, fertiliser consumption in 78 districts is over 200 kg/ha. Punjab tops all these districts in the use of fertiliser with heavy subsidy up to 70 per cent. But over 400 farmers in Punjab, who have adopted natural farming, are not getting any incentive or bonus to save biodiversity, soil, water conservation and chemical mitigation,” said Dutt.