Farmers urged to adopt straw mgmt techniques

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 20

The three-day Kisan Mela started at the Punjab Agricultural University here on Thursday. The theme this year is: “Manage Crop Residue efficiently, enhance soil fertility”. This is for the first time that the Kisan Mela is being held for three days.

Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of PAU, VP Singh Badnore was the chief guest. He inaugurated the mela at the main gate of the agro-industrial exhibition. Hamid Karzai, former president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman, Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission, were the guests of honour. Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, presided over the mela.

Badnore said: “Punjab paved the way for Green Revolution in the country and the farmers of Rajasthan picked up farming from the farmers of Punjab.” Asking farmers not to burn paddy straw but adopt management technologies being provided by the university, he informed that a subsidy of Rs395 crore had been provided by the Centre to Punjab for straw management.

“Your forefathers were not educated, but you are. You can do much more in the field of agriculture,” he exhorted the participating farmers.

In his remarks, Karzai was all praise for green fields, agricultural production and the participation of farmers of Punjab and adjoining states in the mela. Overwhelmed by the hospitality of PAU, he said: “Yeh mulakat to ek bahana hai, pyaar ka silsila purana hai.”

Meanwhile, Jakhar called for opening the border for trade, which would benefit people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in general and Punjab in particular. Making a call to stop burning stubble in Punjab, he said the Punjab Government had announced an award of 1 million dollar to the person, who comes up with spray technology for straw management.

Tracing the history of his family, he said: “In 1956, it was felt that the soils of California (US) and Abohar (Punjab) were the same. My grandfather Balram Jakhar worked hard to develop orchards in Abohar. Presently, about 1 lakh acre of the area is under kinnow farming in the state.”

Punjab is making progress, but soil degradation, water crisis and corporate sector in agriculture business are matters of serious concern, he said.

“Punjab brought the Green Revolution, but every revolution has a lifespan,” he said. Jakhar urged farmers to enhance profit instead of productivity, reduce the use of pesticides to save environment and conserve water for future generations.

Earlier, PAU VC Baldev Singh Dhillon said: “The faith and gratitude of farmers has enabled the university to earn respect at the national as well as international level.” Pointing out the challenges in the present-day agriculture scenario, Dhillon stressed on using Happy Seeder and Baler technologies to manage crop residue, avoiding excessive use of pesticides in basmati, using agro-chemicals as per need in various crops, adopting kitchen garden (gobhi sarson, lentil and chickpea) concept for nutritional diet.

AS Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), voiced concern over adulterated milk being supplied in the market and the rise in the number of stray cattle. He stressed that adulteration needs to be checked at every cost, otherwise it would affect milk production. Pig and goat farming can give economic benefits to farmers, he said.

Publication released

A publication on paddy straw management by industrious farmers of Punjab was also released on the occasion. It covers success stories of 40 farmers, who have shun the practice of residue burning in the fields and are managing it using suitable machinery. The publication also throws light on villages, which have been adopted by the PAU and have shown significant improvement — be it social, economical or agricultural.

Excellent Village Award for Chatta Nanhera 

The PAU, for the first time, conferred the “Governor Excellent Village Award” to Chatta Nanhera village in Sunam tehsil of Sangrur district. KVK, Kheri, adopted the village in February 2016. Keeping in view its problems, training, Kisan Goshtis, Khet Divas, awareness campaigns and health camps were held. As a result, increasing number of farmers started using fertilisers on soil test basis and also in the adoption of recommended paddy and wheat varieties. A resolution was passed by the panchayat that no farmer would indulge in stubble burning. In addition, congress grass was eradicated and kitchen garden concept was promoted. Farmers ventured into beekeeping and poultry farming. Kirat, a self-help group, was formed for the preparation of pickles, chutneys, murabbas, masalas, pulses, sewaiyan and home cleaning detergents, which are being sold through rural mart. The village also said no to female foeticide, drug addiction and superfluous expenditure on wedding ceremonies. 

Highlights 

• University students staged a play based on paddy straw burning, which was highly appreciated by farmers 
• A PAU student enthralled the audience with his song by sending out the message — “Say no to stubble burning” 
• Students also took out a rally educating farmers to shun burning stubble 
• The VC appealed to the farmers to read PAU farm literature and maintain contact with the university through WhatsApp (82880-57707)