Farmers return to manual harvesting
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 15
Even as the state agriculture is getting mechanical, many farmers of the district are turning to the old practice of manual harvesting of wheat, thanks to the shortage of wheat chaff (toori) during the past many years.

Instead of depending on combines and reapers, the farmers are employing migrant labourers to do the job. The trend is proving to be a boon for migrant labourers, whose demand has increased manifold.

Farmers said it had been observed in the recent past that the cattle did not like straw prepared after harvesting the wheat with a combine harvester. There was a shortage of chaff felt by them during the past three-four years when the harvesting was done with the combine only.

The development is all set to result in less environmental pollution since the stubble is set afire to clear the fields. A survey by a Tribune team in Leelan, Sarabha, Nangal, Pakhowal, Lalton, Gujjarwal and other villages revealed that most of the farmers had employed migrant labourers to harvest the crop and the work was going on manually.

Farmers said during the past three years, the cost of straw in the market had increased manifold due to its shortage. Many of them were forced to sell their cattle due to the shortage.

Experts had also advised the farmers to harvest their crop manually so that they would be able to have straw and store it for future. Following the advice and learning from their past experiences, the farmers switched over to the traditional method of harvesting.

Mr Inqlab Singh, a farmer, said though manual harvesting was a time-consuming affair, the farmers were preferring it. He said that sensing the trouble of the farmers, labourers were also demanding high wages.

Mr Satnam Singh, another farmer of Issewal village said the straw prepared with the help of threshers after harvesting it manually was of a better quality as compared to that prepared by combines.

While the labourers are happy with the development, it has spelt doom for the combine harvester owners, some of whom had even sold their land to buy combines. 

300 students participate in quiz contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 15
Students of New Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, participated in a health and hygiene quiz, organised by Cremica Foods here today. The quiz was presided over by the Deputy Director of the school, Mr H.C. Gupta, and anchored by Mr Aditya Raj Kalia, director of an event managing company. The quiz was divided into two groups. The junior group consisted of students of Classes V, VI and VII and the senior group had students from Classes VIII, IX and X.

Each group was divided into four teams, ‘proteins’, ‘fats’, ‘carbohydrates’ and ‘vitamins’. The quiz revolved around topics pertaining to human health, social health, balanced diet, food, diseases and cleanliness.

Among the participants of junior group, the ‘proteins’ team, represented by Inderpreet Kaur of Class V, Kriti Seth of Class VI and Amit Kumar of Class VII, won the first prize. Second prize went to Manpreet Kaur of Class VI, Mitesh Sethi of Class VI and Rohit Kundra of Class VII, representing the ‘fats’ team.

The ‘fats’ team with Aditya of Class VIII, Ramandeep Kaur of Class IX and Karan Gandhi of Class X won the first prize among the participants of senior group. The ‘proteins’ team, represented by Lalima Sethi of Class VIII, Roopkamal of Class IX and Jaypinder of Class X, was declared second. Participants of the ‘carbohydrates’ and ‘vitamins’ teams were given consolation prizes. The Deputy Director of the school thanked Mr Kalia.

Cultural nite marks foundation day
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 15
As part of celebrations to mark the 13th foundation day of Fatehgarh Sahib district, a cultural nite of the Amloh subdivision was organised here on Wednesday. Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, inaugurated the programme.

The programme was organised by the District Cultural Society, Fatehgarh Sahib, in association with the North Zone Cultural Society, Patiala. Speaking on the occasion Mr Ahluwalia said the society had organised 28 cultural programmes at different places in the district.

The cultural programme began with a Rajasthani song and dance presentation. Then came the turn of Haryanvi “Phag”. A team from Madhya Pradesh presented a folk dance depicting the Navratras.