‘SHUN PADDY RESIDUE BURNING’

The PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jalandhar (Nurmahal) under the aegis of Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and ICAR-ATARI, Zone-1 organized Kisan Mela on November 01, 2022 in which around 600 farmers participated. This mela was organized under the project “Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-situ Management of Crop Residue in Punjab” with the guidance of Dr Sanjeev Kataria, Deputy Director (Training), KVK, Jalandhar.

Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana was the chief guest on this occasion. Dr Jaswant Rai, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jalandhar, Dr Lal Bhadur, Deputy Director, Department of Horticulture, Jalandhar, Mr. Rohit Kumar, Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies, Jalandhar, Mrs. Savita Singh, Assistant Manager NABARD, Jalandhar and Dr Srikant Sahoo, Principal National Dairy Development Board, Jalandhar graced the occasion as special guests.

Dr. Sanjeev Kataria in his opening remarks welcomed the chief guest, officials from allied departments, farmers and farm women’s, students, stakeholders and self-help groups. Dr Kataria informed the participants that the CRM machinery like Happy Seeder, rotavator, mould board plough, etc. is available at KVK and provided to the farmers for managing crop residues in their fields.

In his influential address, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana apprised the farmers about importance of managing paddy residue and urged the farmers to shun residue burning. Dr. Ashok Kumar also emphasized on the self-marketing and adoption of subsidiary occupations like dairy, poultry, nursery raising, honey processing, etc for improving the farmers’ income. Dr. Balvir Kaur, Assistant Professor (Horticulture) shared valuable suggestions for winter vegetable production. Dr Opinder Singh Sandhu, Assistant Professor (Soil Science), KVK Jalandhar advised the farmers that the paddy residue incorporation not only improves the soil health, but also helps in increasing the crop productivity. Er. Rupinder Chandel, Dr. Rohit Gupta and Dr. Ritu Raj also urged the farmers to not compound the problem by indulging in straw burning.

The impressive exhibitions by KVK Jalandhar, Department of Horticulture, IFFCO Jalandhar, Self help groups and Entreprenuers was a major attraction of the event for the participants. Exhibition was visited and appreciated by the Chief Guest and other officials.

In the end, Vote of thanks was given by Dr. Sanjeev Kataria to all dignitaries, officials and farmers for making this event fruitful and successful.

KVK Jalandhar is conducting a training course of 5 day from 17 to 21 October, 2022 at adopted village Rupowal. In this ongoing training farmers from adopted villages Rupowal, Nagra, Mehsampur are participating. In this training programme Dr Sanjeev Kataria detailed the farmers about benefits of in-situ management of paddy straw and benefits involved under the project to the farmers. He gave tips about effective control of insect pests in crops sown in paddy straw managed fields. Er Rupinder Chandel made the farmers aware about various in-situ paddy straw management machineries like Super SMS, Happy Seeder, Smart Seeder, Mulcher, Reversible mould board plough etc. He told farmers about various operational tips for these machines for better germination and growth of wheat crop and also encouraged farmers to adopted CHC (custom hiring centre) model at village level for these machines. Dr. Balvir Kaur emphasized farmers for use of paddy straw in mushroom cultivation and enhancing their income. Dr. Ritu Raj detailed the farmers about methodology of accurate seed treatment. She told farmers about its importance while in-situ sowing of wheat crop and control of various diseases in wheat and other rabi crops. Dr. Opinder Sandhu explained farmers about soil sampling and benefits of soil testing for judicious use of fertilizers. He urged farmers for in-situ management of crop residue for maintaining soil health and sustainability in agriculture. Dr Baljeet Kaur told farmers about benefits of in-situ sowing, in tackling climate change and terminal heat effect on wheat crop.