Punjab News Daily

Sangrur, September 10

Under the campaign to stop paddy stubble burning, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sangrur of Punjab Agricultural University organized a block-level farmer awareness camp at village Balian, Block Dhuri, in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat. More than 100 farmers participated in the camp.

On this occasion, Dr Mandeep Singh, In-charge, PAU-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sangrur, made the farmers aware about the adverse effects of burning paddy straw on environment, soil health and human health. He informed that burning one ton of paddy straw causes a loss of 5.5 kg Nitrogen, 2.3 kg Phosphorus, 25 kg Potash and 1.2 kg Sulphur. He added that harmful gases produced due to stubble burning pollute the environment and cause diseases in humans. He strongly appealed to the farmers to adopt in-situ management techniques instead of burning the straw. He also informed about the benefits of in-situ straw management and improvement in soil health. He said that incorporation of paddy straw into the field increases the organic carbon content of the soil, which makes the soil more fertile, reduces the expenditure on chemical fertilizers and increases crop yield.

Besides this, he also gave information about the new high-yielding wheat variety PBW 887. He informed that this variety takes 155 days to mature and its average yield is 24.60 quintals per acre. He also informed about other high-yielding varieties like PBW 872 and PBW 826. He also shared information about special quality wheat varieties like PBW Zinc 2, PBW 1 Chapati, PBW RS 1 and PBW 1 Biscuit etc. He motivated the farmers to sow Rabi pulses and oilseed crops. He also invited the farmers to participate in large numbers in the Kisan Melas to be organized by Punjab Agricultural University during the month of September.

Dr Sunil Kumar, Assistant Professor (Farm Machinery), gave detailed information about the farm machinery developed by PAU for sowing wheat after managing paddy straw in the field, such as Smart Seeder, Super Seeder, Surface Seeder, Happy Seeder, Reversible Plough, Mulcher, etc. He also informed the farmers about making straw bales with a Baler. Considering the nutrients present in the straw, he emphasized on conserving it in the field itself.

Dr Rukinderpreet Singh, Assistant Professor (Agronomy), informed the farmers about weed control and nutrient management in wheat crop sown after incorporating straw in the field. He encouraged the use of pre-emergence herbicides for effective control of _Phalaris minor_ (gulli danda) in wheat. He also shared valuable suggestions for the management of pink stem borer in wheat.

At the end of the camp, queries of the farmers were answered and vegetable seed kits for the winter season and extension literature prepared by the University were distributed amongst them.

Sarpanch of the village S. Kuldeep Singh and President of the Cooperative Society Jagseer Singh expressed their heartfelt thanks to the team of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sangrur.  Pargat Singh and his fellow farmers made commendable efforts to make the camp a success.