3 Muktsar farmers have stayed clean for years
MUKTSAR: Even as the issue refuses to die down, there are farmers in the state, who are setting an example, by shunning the practice, voluntarily, and that too, for years. Recognising that there was a positive wave that could develop if others followed this example, the district administration honoured 40 farmers in October first week, who did not burn stubble last season. Deputy commissioner MK Aravind handed over coupons of ₹6,000 to each of the farmers at the felicitation ceremony.
Even otherwise, the district has at least three farmers who have not burnt stubble for years. Meet Jagseer Singh, of Doohewala village, 19km from district headquarters. He has not burnt paddy stubble since 2009, on his 17 acre. “We prepare bales from the stubble and sell it to a nearby biomass plant. While giving my land on rent, I stipulate the condition of not burning the stubble. From this year, more farmers need to follow me as we also mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. It is time to follow his ideology and shun the practice,” says Jagseer, who recent met chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who acknowledged his efforts.
Gurinder Singh Brar, of Bhanchari village in Muktsar, hasn’t burnt stubble for five years. “I used implements including rotavator to incorporate stubble into the soil. The yield of wheat crop increased,” he added.
Sukhdev Singh, another farmer of Kattianwali village, in Malout has shunned the practice for four years.
“This has helped me in increasing organic matter in the soil leading to more production. We have also purchased equipment by making a group at 80% subsidy,” Sukhdev told HT.
More efforts are on in the district to ensure the positive word spreads.
“We have adopted four villages, where we will provide implements for straw management for free, besides providing technical support to farmers. We will hold 50 demonstrations per village to control stubble burning,” said Muktsar Krishi Vigyan Kendra director Nirmaljit Singh Dhaliwal.
‘REQUEST CENTRE TO EXTEND DEADLINE’
Punjab agriculture director Sutantar Kumar Airi said, “We have provided 3,036 machines to farmers and 7,075 machines to groups of farmers.”
He added, “Farmers are to purchase the machines only after paddy harvest is over. Only 30% harvest is complete. Farmers have also been complacent, with the majority still to get payment for their crop. We are requesting the Centre to extend the deadline to November 30.”