ADOs receive training in paddy straw management at PAU

The Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering (FMPE), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organised a “Training of Trainers on Paddy Straw Management to Control Straw Burning” for new Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs).

A total of 50 participants from 11 districts of Punjab — Jalandhar, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Barnala, Moga, Sangrur and Hoshiarpur — attended the training programme. Dr Jaswant Singh, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab and Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, have decided to train the newly appointed ADOs under IEC activities of CRM scheme.

Dr Manjeet Singh, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, and head of the department, welcomed the trainees.

He stated that the PAU has been working on paddy straw management for the last 25 years and developed numerous machines for this purpose. He further said that this course would be useful for controlling paddy straw burning in the coming season.

Dr GPS Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education, PAU, gave tips to the ADOs regarding paddy straw management in the field. He said that paddy straw also helps in improving soil health.

Dr MK Narang, Principal Extension Scientist (FMPE), responded to the queries about Surface Seeder technology and shed light on different types of balers and their working. He imparted knowledge about various in-situ and ex-situ straw management technologies such as Happy Seeder, Smart Seeder, Super Seeder, Straw Chopper-cum-Spreader, Incorporation, Surface Seeder, Baling, etc.

The trainees were also enlightened about weed and pest management knowledge in residue-managed fields.

Dr Narang further informed that one more training programme would be conducted for the newly recruited officials from the remaining districts of the state.

Dr Manpreet Singh, Principal Scientist, informed the trainees in advances in sustainable intensification for regenerative agriculture (Happy Seeder, Super SMS and PAU Smart Seeder) for sowing wheat into paddy residues, while Dr Apoorva Prakash, Scientist (FMPE), apprised the trainees of machinery for in-situ paddy incorporation (Super Seeder, Wet Mixing and Dry Mixing).

Dr Beant Singh spoke about insect-pest management in wheat crop and Dr Iqbal Singh, Scientist (DREE), dwelt upon the use of paddy straw as an energy source.

Dr Priya Katyal, Department of Microbiology, shared the PAU’s experience on bio-decomposer for straw management and Dr Manmeet Kaur, Associate Professor (Extension Education), focused on advanced extension methods for the implementation of straw management technologies in fields through reinforcements, changing the mindset of farmers and interacting with children and women, and letting them know how to act as influencers. All the participants showed keen interest in the training and interactive session.