Prime Minister lauds farmer’s stubble-management measures

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 29

Australia-returned farmer Virender Yadav (32) of Faras Majra village in Kaithal district is on cloud nine after Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his story of earning money from stubble management while addressing the nation in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on Sunday.

Yadav has been receiving greetings from people as well as officials of Kaithal and surrounding districts. Kaithal Deputy Commissioner Sujan Singh as well as Deputy Director Agriculture, Kaithal, Karam Chand lauded his efforts.

At a time when people are struggling due to air pollution partly due to stubble burning, Yadav has set an example by making money by selling stubble to agro energy plant and paper mill.

Yadav had never imagined that the PM would highlight his efforts. “I had never imagined that our PM would share my story in his ‘Mann ki Baat’. I am happy that the PM has appreciated my stubble management steps,” Yadav told The Tribune over the phone.

He said, “After spending four years in Australia, I came back to India in 2018. I had purchased a baler machine and tractor for crop management. When I had started doing this, people considered it to be petty work, but I started selling straw.”

He belongs to a small farming family, but takes land on lease. “My father motivated me to do some business related to agriculture. I consulted other farmers as well as officials of the department and formed an agriculture society,” said Yadav.

Later, with the help of other farmers, he established a custom hiring centre for the management of straw with various agricultural implements. Encouraged by the success of the first society, he formed another and availed 80 per cent subsidy from the Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department in both the societies. He also involved around 200 farmers in his business, said DDA Karam Chand.

He said Yadav has been managing paddy straw with the help of four baler machines and also engaged in in-situ management.

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