Farmers learn new methods to conserve water

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, February 13

Over 50 farmers from five villages participated in the campaign organised to promote adoption of modern technology and reduce the consumption of groundwater in paddy cultivation

Officials of PSPCL, World Bank-TERI, Department of Agriculture and Soil and Water Conservation, and scientists from Punjab Agriculture University also took part in the drive held under the banner of ‘Paani Bachao, Paise Kamao’ at Bambiwal.

The farmers, were taken to demonstration farms set up by the World Bank-TERI-PAU consortium with the help of the PSPCL and Agriculture Department to showcase various interventions such as cultivation of rust-resistant wheat variety, wheat sowing by happy seeder, underground pipeline systems, etc. which help in reducing groundwater consumption while increasing farm productivity.

The field day commenced with Navdeep Samra, SDO, Bambiwal, explaining the DBTE scheme layout and subsidy acquired by the farmers. While explaining the importance of ‘Pani Bachao, Paise Kamao’ scheme in improving the groundwater situation.

Dr Angrez Singh, assistant professor, PAU, mentioned the impact of paddy straw burning. He explained benefits of using efficient techniques such as SMS combine harvester and bailer for paddy straw management. He mentioned that wheat sowing by happy seeder reduces emergence of weeds and water usage.

Dr Rajan Aggarwal explained the benefits of using water-efficient technologies such as solar pumps, underground pipeline system and drip irrigation in the farmland and the schemes related to it. He also motivated the farmers to reduce cost of crop cultivation through usage of cost-effective farm techniques. He summarised his session by urging farmers to adopt kitchen garden cultivation practices.