CM: Shun stubble-burning for sake of future generations

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 21

Although the government is making efforts to restrict stubble-burning by providing happy seeders developed by the Punjab Agricultural University on subsidy, farmers today showed their disagreement in adopting the new technology.

They raised their voice in dissent for using happy seeder although the Chief Minister made every effort to make them understand its benefits.

Capt Amarinder, while addressing the inaugural function of a two-day Kissan Mela, exhorted farmers to shun the practice of stubble-burning and said farmers who had been using the happy seeder had seen an increase in the harvest of crops to which the latter raised their voice in disagreement.

To this, Amarinder asked them not to blindly follow what was being said by others and put the technology into practice. “Whether you like it or not, you have to adopt it,” Amarinder said, but again, the farmers opposed his advice.

After seeing their reaction, Amarinder said it seemed they did not like the technology. “This is one way of progressing further and by not adopting the technology, you are hindering your own progress. If you don’t want new technology, then don’t adopt it, but by doing so, you will be causing harm to Punjab,” he said.

He asked farmers to make a decision by thinking about the next generations. “Is this the environment you want to leave for your children and grandchildren?” he asked them. He said the burning of stubble was posing a major environmental threat besides damaging the soil. The CM called upon farmers to take full advantage of straw-management machinery, which was being provided on 50-80 per cent subsidy.