Abohar farmers seek nod to set stubble on fire

Farmers in several villages along Sri Ganganagar Road in Abohar have sought permission from the district authorities to burn paddy stubble.

The permission has been sought from the deputy commissioner as waterlogging during recent rains has softened the earth, preventing the deployment of residue removal machines.

Farmers claimed that the problem persisted at several villages, including Dalmir Khera, Gidranwali, Patti Billa, Diwan Khera, Sarwar Khuian, Kandhwala Amarkot, Khuikhera Rukanpura and Dhani Mandla.

A farmer said they sought the permission to burn paddy stubble since heavy machinery got stuck in fields, making operations impossible.

The Dalmir Khera panchayat has even met the deputy commissioner in this regard. Sarpanch Sunita said, “The rains in August caused waterlogging and the water remained in the fields for a long time. As a result, the water table has risen. Now, heavy machinery gets stuck in the fields. Hence, we have passed a resolution appealing to the district administration to allow us burn paddy stubble.”

Jashan Deep Sidhu, a farmer from the same village, said they had to use the harvesters that roll on chains instead of tyres. “Balers and heavy trailers cannot be operated in the fields. The administration should conduct a survey and allow us burn stubble as no other option is left for us.”

“The groundwater is now just about two feet below the surface and we can’t even mulch the crop residue into the soil. The crop yield has also drastically decreased due to waterlogging,” he added.

Ajay Wadhwa, vice-president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Khosa) and a farmer from Diwan Khera village, said, the administration or the Agriculture Department should send their teams for inspections to solve the problem or permit stubble burning.

Another farmer leader, Sukhmander Singh, said, “The issue needs to be addressed immediately as farmers have already harvested their paddy crop and are now waiting to dispose of the stubble.”

Harpreet Pal Kaur, Chief Agriculture Officer, said, “Farmers in waterlogging-affected villages may have to face some problem but we will conduct field surveys and find out some way. I joined just last week here.”