08 November2022, Punjab: “Stop setting paddy straw on fire; instead go for its in-situ management,” urged experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to the farmers during the training programme on “Crop Residue Management” in the village Mannawala Singh of district Ferozepur. The training programme was jointly organized by the Department of Extension Education and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ferozepur, in which more than 100 farmers participated. It was held under the project funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to motivate the farmers to adopt in-situ straw management technologies.
Raising concerns over the smoky weather due to farm fires, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Head, Department of Extension Education, advised the farmers to say no to this practice as it leads to breathing issues, affecting the human health badly.
While welcoming the participants, Dr Dharminder Singh, Senior Extension Scientist, discussed the effects of paddy straw burning on human health, soil health and environment. He called upon the farmers to use farm machinery on cooperative basis by sharing expenses.
Dr Gurjant Singh Aulakh, Associate Director, KVK Ferozepur, assured all possible help in straw management and urged the farmers to use Super Straw Management System enabled combine-harvesters for paddy crop.
Dr Manpreet Singh, Machinery Expert, dwelt upon sowing of wheat crop with Smart Seeder machine.
Ms Savita, DDM Ferozepur, NABARD shared information about different schemes of NABARD for farmers’ welfare.
Dr Jagjot Singh Gill, Agronomist, explained improved agronomic practices for wheat crop.
Farmers showed keen interest in field demonstration on Smart Seeder machine and vowed to adopt it. Literature related to crop residue management was distributed among the farmers. Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and KVK scientists also attended the demonstration.
