Abohar village adopts eco-friendly practices to manage straw

Farmers in Diwan Khera village, near Abohar, are adopting eco-friendly practices to manage paddy straw.

Under Sarpanch Sunil Kumar’s guidance, villagers are collecting paddy straw for mulching in kinnow orchards. This helps them to reduce stubble burning and enhance soil health. Kumar said, “Mulching has significantly improved the health of my kinnow orchard, and I encourage others to follow suit.”

Chief Agricultural Officer Dr Sandeep Rinwa stated, “Mulching with paddy straw benefits kinnow orchards by reducing soil temperature and minimizing irrigation requirements.”

The village plans to organize monthly awareness camps in collaboration with the horticulture and agriculture departments to promote sustainable farming practices.

Experts said kinnow orchards, spread over a significant area, could benefit from this practice, as it helped in mitigating the adverse effects of heat waves and reducing the need for frequent irrigation.

The Horticulture Department said new kinnow orchards were being planted on 850 acres of land near Abohar and Balluana, while around 70 acres of kinnow orchards had come under the National Highways Authority of India’s Bharatmala project in 2023-24.