175 service providers get training in paddy straw management at PAU

The Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organised a one-day training programme on “Paddy straw management to control straw burning” at the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology. It was held in collaboration with the Reviving Green Revolution (RGR) Cell (an associate organisation of Tata Trusts) under the PRANA programme, supported by The Nature Conservancy.

The training saw participation from nearly 175 service providers from various districts of the state. These service providers have been operating different CRM technologies like Happy Seeder, Super SMS, Mulchur, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder and Surface Seeder for in-situ management of paddy straw for quite some time and are well-trained in these activities.

Dr Mahesh Kumar, Additional Director of Research (Engineering), shared the PAU’s long-standing commitment of over 25 years in developing and promoting technologies for straw management. He encouraged participants to actively engage with experts during the training and assured that the course would build confidence in managing crop residues efficiently.

Dr Mahesh Kumar Narang, Principal Extension Scientist and former head of the department, acted as the course coordinator. In his address, he emphasised the importance of in-situ residue management for improving soil health and long-term savings in fertiliser use. He noted that 80 per cent of straw management machinery had been developed by PAU and informed that under a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), the state government had distributed around 1.5 lakh straw management machines among farmers.

Technical training sessions were led by Dr Manpreet Singh, Principal Scientist, on advanced equipment for sustainable intensification; Dr Assem Verma, Senior Scientist, on machinery for in-situ paddy incorporation like Super Seeder and wet/dry mixing methods; and Dr Jasvir Singh Gill on PAU Surface Seeder technology and operational best practices.

A hands-on field demonstration followed the technical sessions, where trainees interacted with experts enquiring about operation of the machines such as Happy Seeder, PAU Smart Seeder, Super Seeder, Mulcher, and PAU Surface Seeder.

Additionally, Dr Santosh Kumar, Scientist (FMPE), provided insights into drone applications in agriculture. He informed participants about the requirement of a DGCA-authorised pilot licence for drone operation and highlighted that PAU offered certified training for aspiring drone pilots. Interested individuals could register at www.pau.edu.The training programme successfully equipped service providers with practical knowledge and technical skills, aiming to reduce the incidence of stubble burning and promote eco-friendly farming practices across Punjab.