Farmers urged to adopt machinery-based paddy residue management in Hoshiarpur
With the paddy harvesting season approaching, agricultural experts have urged farmers in the district to move towards collective and machinery-based management of crop residue instead of resorting to stubble burning.
The call was made during a block-level awareness camp on paddy residue management organised by PAU-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Hoshiarpur, at Muggowal village on Monday. The programme formed part of the KVK’s ongoing efforts to discourage stubble burning and promote scientific alternatives among farmers.
Dr Maninder Singh Bons, Associate Director (Training), KVK Hoshiarpur, said farmers needed to make greater use of custom hiring centres and cooperative arrangements for the effective utilisation of paddy residue management machinery. He said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had established custom hiring centres in the block, which could help farmers access costly machinery without having to purchase it individually.
Dr Bons stressed that avoiding residue burning was essential not only for protecting the environment but also for maintaining soil health. He also briefed farmers on integrated weed, nutrient and pest management practices for paddy, maize, basmati, sugarcane, groundnut and soybean.
Dr Ajaib Singh, Assistant Professor (Agricultural Engineering), KVK Hoshiarpur, emphasised the importance of harvesting paddy with a Super SMS-equipped combine to facilitate subsequent residue management. He explained the working and utility of various machines, including the surface seeder, smart seeder, happy seeder, mouldboard plough, zero-till drill, mulcher and cutter. He said proper management of residue immediately after harvesting could enable farmers to incorporate or utilise the straw rather than burn it in the fields.
Dr Parminder Singh, Associate Professor (Animal Science), KVK Hoshiarpur, highlighted alternative uses of paddy straw. He said the residue could be utilised in mushroom cultivation, biogas production as fuel and mulch, in the paper industry and for fodder purposes. He also apprised farmers of seasonal management practices for dairy animals.
Progressive farmers, including Kamaljit Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Pawandeep Singh, Raghbir Singh, Bagh Singh and Kuldip Singh, attended the camp and interacted with the agricultural experts on residue management practices and machinery.
Muggowal village sarpanch Bhupinder Singh proposed the vote of thanks. The experts said sustained awareness at the village level, coupled with easy access to residue management machinery through custom hiring and cooperative arrangements, could play a crucial role in reducing stubble burning during the coming harvesting season.
