Stop setting crop residue on fire, Patiala DC urges farmers

Deputy Commissioner Dr Preeti Yadav today visited several “hotspot” villages in the district to raise awareness about the harmful effects of stubble burning and encourage farmers to adopt eco-friendly practices to manage crop residue.

Interacting with farmers while touring Kalvanu, Daroli, Naivala and Kakrala villages in the Patran area, Yadav appealed to them to avoid setting crop residue on fire, stressing that their cooperation was essential to curb air pollution and protect public health. She highlighted that with joint efforts of farmers and the administration, farm fire incidents in Patiala were reduced to nearly 500 last year, a significant drop from previous seasons.

“The government is extending all possible support for in-situ stubble management. Equipment such as Happy Seeders, Super-SMS–equipped combines, balers and other machinery is being provided so that fields can be prepared for the next crop without burning the stubble,” said Yadav.

The DC assured farmers that the administration would continue to support them with timely supply of DAP fertiliser and essential machinery for the upcoming sowing season, urging them not to resort to farm fires in haste. She also cautioned that strict legal action would be taken against those violating the ban on stubble burning.

Yadav expressed her gratitude to residents of villages near the Ghaggar river for their cooperation in strengthening bundhs, which helped protect thousands of acres of crops from floods.

Awareness vans flagged off

A day after two cases of farm fires were reported from Patiala, the DC on Thursday flagged off awareness vans of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to sensitise farmers against stubble burning. The vans will cover 934 villages of the district over the next 40 days. Yadav said on the directions of CM Bhagwant Mann, farmers were being educated through village-level camps as well as awareness vans.

“Stubble burning not only pollutes the environment but also causes respiratory diseases, destroys soil-friendly organisms and endangers birds and animals,” she said. Incorporating one tonne of stubble into the soil, she added, provided nitrogen, sulfur, potash and organic carbon, saving farmers nearly Rs 1,500–2,000 per acre.

Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh said the vans would travel across Rajpura, Patiala, Ghanaur, Nabha, Bhunerheri, Samana, Sanour and Patran blocks with publicity material and experts to guide farmers on stubble management.