DC Kapurthala drives tractor to promote stubble management

In an initiative to promote in-situ stubble management, Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Amit Kumar Panchal today drove a tractor himself in the fields of village Randhirpur, Sultanpur Lodhi, encouraging farmers to manage crop residue within their fields instead of burning it.

Accompanied by SSP Gaurav Toora, Panchal interacted with farmers at Hebatpur and Randhirpur to review and support their ongoing efforts in stubble management. At Randhirpur, he personally operated a rotavator in a field where farmers had successfully managed stubble and were preparing land for potato cultivation.

During his interaction, the Deputy Commissioner said that due to the consistent efforts of the district administration and the cooperation of farmers, incidents of stubble burning have significantly reduced this season. He added that the administration, through the “Parali Protection Force” and other officials, had visited 27 hotspot villages to raise awareness about the harmful effects of stubble burning — leading to positive results.

Panchal further informed that the Agriculture Department has distributed around 5,436 machines to farmers under the subsidy scheme, enabling them to manage stubble both in-situ and ex-situ. This initiative, he said, not only benefits the environment but also improves soil health.

He also highlighted that 22 cooperative societies in the district are providing mulchers, reversible ploughs, tractors, rotavators and other agricultural machinery on rent to farmers, ensuring they face no difficulties in managing stubble effectively.

Appealing to farmers, Panchal urged them to mix stubble back into the soil instead of burning it, as this practice enhances soil fertility. He emphasized that Punjab’s farmers, who contribute over 50 per cent to the nation’s food grain reserves, can also play a leading role in environmental protection.

Present on the occasion were Chief Agriculture Officer Dr HPS Bharot, Agriculture Development Officer Dr Jaspal Singh, Agriculture Extension Officer Parminder Kumar and other officials.