100 volunteers to apprise farmers about ill-effects of burning crop residue in Malerkotla district

Malerkotla, October 11

As many as 100 progressive farmers of the region have come forward to volunteer as torchbearers of an eco-friendly crop residue management system and to work to sensitise paddy cultivators about the causes and consequences of stubble burning.

The district administration said the volunteers would urge farmers to shun stubble burning and also speak during events organised by the administration to apprise farmers about the drawbacks of burning stubble on their farmland. They said the volunteers would also impart knowledge about alternate methods to dispose of paddy straw.

The volunteers took an oath during a function organised by the administration. The 100 volunteers said they would shun the menace of burning agricultural waste.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu chaired the function that was organised under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Pallavi.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Harbans Singh said Raghbir Singh and Jasbir Singh, residents of Malikpur village, had roped in several farmers to support the campaign to prevent farm fires.

Farmers of the region had vowed to strictly follow guidelines of the National Green Tribunal and adopt alternative methods to dispose of agricultural wastes, said Raghbir Singh. He said he was satisfied by the response they have received from paddy cultivators in the area.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate said, “We have managed to cultivate multiple crops in 50 acres of land by adopting the crop residue management method for over five years. I believe other farmers can also follow it to save their land and to prevent farm fires.”

The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Pallavi, appreciated the efforts of the team who persuaded farmers to shun the malpractice of burning stubble. The Deputy Commissioner said, “It was due to coordinated efforts by the state government as well as social organisations working for the welfare of farmers that we got a substantial decline in the number of stubble burning cases (39 per cent) from 2022 to 2023.”