Patiala, September 18
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav on Thursday flagged off awareness vans of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to sensitise farmers against stubble burning. The vans will cover 934 villages of Patiala district over the next 40 days.
Dr. Preeti Yadav said that under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, farmers are being educated through village-level camps as well as awareness vans. She appealed to farmers to avoid burning paddy stubble and instead adopt in-situ and ex-situ techniques for crop residue management.
“Stubble burning not only pollutes the environment but also causes respiratory diseases, destroys soil-friendly organisms and endangers birds and animals,” she said. Incorporating one ton of stubble into the soil, she added, provides nitrogen, sulfur, potash and organic carbon, saving farmers nearly Rs. 1,500–2,000 per acre.
Highlighting the government’s CRM scheme, the DC said subsidised machinery such as Happy Seeders, Super Seeders, Mulchers, Zero Till drills and Straw Management Systems is being provided to farmers, cooperatives and groups.
Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Jaswinder Singh said three vans would travel across Rajpura, Patiala, Ghanaur, Nabha, Bhunerheri, Samana, Sanour and Patran blocks with publicity material and experts to guide farmers on stubble management.
Among others present were Agriculture Extension Officer Ravinderpal Singh Chattha, AAE Prabhdeep Singh, ADO Gurmail Singh and Sikander Singh.
