Co-op societies sans happy seeders despite 80% subsidy

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 16

Even as the state government is providing 80 per cent subsidy for happy seeder machines to check stubble-burning, a majority of co-operative societies in the district are yet to buy these.

The district has 144 cooperative societies, but a demand for just 96 happy seeders was sent to the authorities this year. Of these, only 41 have been delivered so far. A Cooperative Department official said the delivery of machines was getting delayed due to some technical issues.

He said the societies had just five happy seeders last year and the area under wheat cultivation in the district was nearly 2 lakh hectares.

Besides, 25 zero tillage machines have been delivered so far to the societies against the demand for 119. Till last year, the co-operative societies had just 15 machines.

An official said: “Most of the cooperative societies are not even having funds to buy such machinery on even 80 per cent subsidy. Some societies have taken loan to buy the equipment as the state government is acting tough against farmers burning paddy stubble.”

Hargopal Singh, secretary, Madhir Co-operative Society, said: “We provide agricultural implements to the farmers in five villages — Madhir, Gurusar, Sheikh, Rukhala and Babanian. Till last year, we had no happy seeder, but this year we have got one. The rent of this machine is yet to be fixed.”

Shubhdeep Kaur, Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Muktsar, said: “We will soon get the remaining machines. The societies will give these to the farmers on rent.”

Misinformation major hurdle

A number of farmers say that there are reports that the yield remains low if wheat is sown using happy seeder or zero tillage machines. Some farmers also talk about higher number of rodents in fields after using these machines. Some even talk about discolouration of the crop at the maturity stage.

Baljinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said: “These are all rumours. Most farmers do not want to adopt new technology. We are holding awareness camps on such issues. We are telling farmers that these machines not just save time and money, but are also environment-friendly and have no impact on yield.”

Traditional method

After paddy is harvested, the fields are made ready for wheat sowing. It is a labourious task, as the tractor has to cover the entire field for at least four times. First reaper is used, then land is ploughed twice using disks, thereafter "suhaga" land leveller is used. It is not a cost-effective method, but opted by a majority of the farmers, who say if they burn paddy stubble, they have to follow this method.