DC reviews stubble management plans, calls for farmer engagement

Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav, along with SSP Nanak Singh, chaired a meeting on stubble management with SDMs and DSPs at the District Administrative Complex today. During the meeting, Yadav directed SDMs to establish direct contact with farmers at the grassroots level regarding stubble management. SP Muhammad Sarfaraz Alam and ADC (Rural Development) Anuprita Johal were also present at the meeting.

Yadav said with the upcoming paddy harvesting season, it was crucial to raise awareness among farmers about stubble management. She said the officials concerned had already been assigned the responsibility to ensure the timely availability of machinery. SDMs and DSPs were instructed to personally visit their respective subdivisions, engage with farmers and promote awareness. She stressed the need to pay special attention to areas that witnessed stubble burning incidents last year.

The DC said the district was well-equipped for both in-situ and ex-situ stubble management techniques. She urged SDMs to ensure optimal utilisition of available machinery under their supervision. Yadav said if the machinery was utilised efficiently, no stubble burning incidents would occur in the district this year.

Appealing to the farmers, Yadav emphasised the district administration had made comprehensive arrangements for stubble management. She urged farmers to avoid burning stubble, considering the environment, soil health and the well-being of their families. Instead, she encouraged them to incorporate the stubble into the soil to enhance its fertility.

In the meeting, Yadav also instructed officials regarding maintaining the mandis, emphasising cleanliness, provision of drinking water and clean restrooms. She directed SDMs to personally inspect the mandis to ensure these measures were in place.

14.4L MT paddy estimated to arrive in dist mandis

The DC directed the departments concerned to ensure that farmers, bringing their produce to the mandis did not face any kind of difficulty. Yadav asked District Mandi Officer Mandeep Singh to complete the arrangements for cleaning, water, tarpaulins, lights and other necessary amenities before the purchase season. She said she would visit mandis before the start of the purchase season to review the arrangements.