You need not burn crop residue. Sangrur farmers show how

Sangrur farmers: While stubble burning continues to be a major pollution hazard, some farmers in Punjab’s Sangrur have begun sowing wheat on the fields. They have adopted new farming techniques to ensure that wheat crop residue is not burnt.

Farmers say there are techniques available that help them adopt green option. The organic carbon content in the farm land has increased over the years in Chathe nakte village. For many years these of the farmers have not burnt crop residue that results in farm fires.

Also Read: Meta: Facebook’s parent company fires more than 11,000 employees

Help from YouTube

Farmer Daljinder Singh from Chathe Nakte village says he learnt the technique from YouTube. “After harvesting paddy, I scatter wheat seeds on the stubble, followed by fertiliser and use mulcher machine to cut paddy. I learnt about the technique on YouTube. Initially, I adopted it over 2 acres and now, I am sowing wheat in 17 acres with this technique,” Daljinder said. He claims it has been 10 years since he burnt stubble.

“For first two years, I used a rotavator and switched to super seeder in 2015. Now, I use the technique of mulching after scattering wheat seeds on paddy stubble,” he said.

“In 2007, the limit organic carbon of my land was 0.3, while in 2019, it increased to 0.9. I am planning to get testing done again. There are many techniques available now which farmers can adopt if they want to shun burning crop residue,” Daljinder added.

Sowing wheat

There are many other farmers like Daljinder who have stopped setting farms on fire after harvesting paddy. They have also shown the way for sowing wheat in unburnt fields.

Jagdeep Singh from Kanoi village has sown wheat in 38 acres by using super seeder and other techniques. He too has not burnt stubble since 2006.

Also Read: Honda sells Over 40 Lac two-wheelers in Uttar Pradesh, Shine and Activa 6G in the lead

“There is an urgent need to launch long-term awareness campaigns in the district as short-term campaigns have failed to convince farmers against stubble-burning,” he said.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal says administration has been trying to convince farmers not to resort to fire fires. “There are many farmers who have not resorted to farm fires. I have also been appealing to farmers to learn the latest techniques to prevent stubble-burning,” he says.

Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.