Moga farmers get 20 balers to check stubble-burning

Moga, September 28

The Moga district administration has provided 20 hi-tech balers to farmers to check stubble-burning.

Handing over the balers, bought at a cost of Rs 3 crore, to the cooperative societies, local MP Mohammad Sadiq said burning of paddy straw not only caused air pollution, but also endangered the lives of people and animals. “The balers will be of great benefit to the farming community, who must switch to the new technology to protect the environment,” he said. The funds to buy the balers were provided by the Centre under the aspirational district programme.

District magistrate Sandeep Hans said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was providing all assistance to the farmers for proper management of paddy straw. He said in the aspirational district programme rankings released by the NITI Aayog, Moga figured among the top five ambitious districts of the country under which an amount of Rs 3 crore was released for purchasing balers.

The balers were given to the cooperative societies of 20 villages, including Ajitwal, Daala, Ghal Kalan, Khosa Pando, Manuke, Chand Nawan, Ghazeana, Badhni Kalan, Kishanpura Kalan and Kot Muhammad Khan. “After harvesting paddy in these villages, straw bales would be made and sent to the biomass plant for its efficient use,” Hans said. — TNS