Showing the way: Straw management’s hands-on experience

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 17

Satnam Singh, a farmer of Rajjian village in Ajnala, has set an example for others by not burning crop residue for the past 12 years.

Satnam and his brother, who own 18 acres, adopted all the available mechanism for straw management.

I have been doing farming for the past 12 years and have never burnt crop residue in the fields. In 2008, I began using 'happy seeder' and 'zero tillage'. Earlier, we had to scatter stubble manually in the field. Now, combine harvesters can chop and scatter crop residue in the fields. It is very helpful for farmers. — Satnam Singh, A farmer of Rajjian village in Ajnala

Satnam said, “I have been doing farming for the past 12 years and have never burnt crop residue in the fields. In 2008, I began using ‘happy seeder’ and ‘zero tillage’. Earlier, we had to scatter stubble manually in the field. Now, combine harvesters can chop and scatter crop residue in the fields. It is very helpful for farmers.”

Satnam got recognition from various agricultural agencies, including Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and the Agriculture Department, for his efforts to save the environment.

Soon more farmers from Rajjian village started to follow Satnam as he was able to get more yield from the fields by not burning stubble.

In 2018, Rajjian village was chosen under United Nations Environment Project (UNEP), for not burning stubble in the fields. With Satnam’s motivation and machines provided under the UNEP, most farmers began straw management.

“Continous efforts and the state government’s financial aid are needed to stop stubble burning. Farmers have to be motivated to adopt straw management techniques,” said Satnam.