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Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, November 30
The state government has decided to conduct a survey of farmers who burnt crop residue this year. The exercise is aimed at knowing about their compulsions to ensure better management of paddy stubble next year.
A nine-point pro forma has been prepared, in which farmers will be asked questions such as total land they used for paddy cultivation this year, land on which stubble was burnt, any loss to the land due to stubble-burning, whether stubble management machines are available, doubts regarding next crop’s yield, kind of machines required, the availability of machines etc.
The survey, which will begin in a couple of days, has to be completed within a month.
Sources in the Agriculture Department said the need for the survey had risen as the state government had tried its best this year to control the stubble-burning but still a large number of farmers had flouted the ban orders. “Further, there were reports that the field officers had prepared some reports by questioning some selective farmers. Now, they will have to visit each and every farmer and mention the reason of fire and area as well. Further, a nodal officer will sign the report before sending it to the head office, which will make him/her accountable,” said an officer in the Agriculture Department.
Meanwhile, speaking over the phone, KS Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture, said, “We are doing this survey to take suggestions from farmers. By doing this, we will also identify the gaps in the field officers’ reach to villages for the creation of awareness and for the supply of machinery so that specific demands of farmers can be met. Farmers should also co-operate with these teams.”
“Further, by holding demonstration camps, the farmers burning paddy stubble will be requested to interact with those farmers who have not been burning the straw and also see the wheat crop sown in their fields. It will help them in making up their mind independently,” added Pannu.
Meanwhile, Baljinder Singh Brar, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “We have got the pro forma and have informed it to the Deputy Commissioner. Teams of nodal officers have been constituted and the survey will begin shortly. In our district, 4,716 stubble-burning incidents were reported this year.”
Nine-point pro forma
A nine-point pro forma has been prepared, in which farmers will be asked questions such as total land they used for paddy cultivation this year, land on which stubble was burnt, any loss witnessed to the land due to stubble-burning, whether stubble management machines are available, doubts regarding next crop’s yield, kind of machines required and the availability of these machines
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