Farmers urged to adopt sustainable practices to prevent stubble burning and protect the environment
Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur
To review the ongoing efforts for the prevention of paddy stubble burning and ensure effective management of crop residue in the district, Deputy Commissioner Ferozepur, Mrs. Deepshikha Sharma, along with Senior Superintendent of Police, S. Bhupinder Singh, and Chief Agriculture Officer, Dr. Balwinder Singh, visited various villages, including Chak Somian, Kohar Singh Wala, Chak Jamit Singh Wala and Chugga.
During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner reviewed both in-situ and ex-situ paddy straw management practices being adopted in the district. The officers interacted with farmers and assessed the efforts being made to manage paddy straw scientifically instead of burning it in the fields.
At village Chugga, progressive farmers Sh. Satwinder Singh Brar and Sh. Harmanjit Singh Brar have sown wheat over approximately 65 acres using a mulcher and plough for the management of paddy residue. Their initiative demonstrates the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving soil health, reducing cultivation costs and minimizing fertilizer consumption.
The officers also interacted with farmers Sh. Gurwinder Singh, Sh. Tek Singh, Sh. Jharmal Singh and Sh. Sukh Darshan Singh at village Chak Somian and encouraged them to adopt scientific methods of crop residue management to prevent stubble burning and maintain soil fertility.
As part of the review of ex-situ paddy straw management, the Deputy Commissioner inspected the straw storage dump owned by Sh. Kuldeep Singh Bharwa at village Chak Somian. Approximately 1,350 metric tonnes of paddy straw have been stored at the dump so far. Such storage facilities play an important role in collecting paddy straw from fields and facilitating its further utilization for industrial and other productive purposes.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of strengthening both in-situ management, wherein crop residue is managed within the fields, and ex-situ management, wherein paddy straw is collected, transported, stored and utilized outside the fields.
The district administration appealed to farmers to refrain from burning paddy straw and make maximum use of available crop residue management machinery and alternative management practices. Farmers were also encouraged to cooperate with the Agriculture Department and district administration in ensuring effective implementation of the stubble management programme.
The district administration reiterated its commitment to promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices and preventing stubble burning throughout Ferozepur district.
