The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organized a one-day workshop on the “Management of Paddy Straw in North-Western India” today in which officials from the Directorate of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab and Punjab Pollution Control Board; policy makers; representatives of industry; farmers from Punjab and faculty of PAU participated.

Mr DK Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab, expressed concern over paddy straw burning, resulting in health and environmental hazards and thus, adversely impacting the beneficial micro-flora and fauna. “PAU is making sincere efforts for crop residue management,” he stated, while stressing upon in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy straw in addition to the use of decomposers. He also apprised participants of the companies who are into stubble management through different ways. Seeing the rising concern for this issue, the workshop has been planned and will go a long way in deliberating on the future course of action, he observed.

Mr Avtar Singh Dhindsa, Chairman, Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission, emphasised on giving up water guzzling variety Pusa 44 and other late maturing varieties of rice, and changing ways of rice sowing for the management of crop residue and enhancing soil organic carbon.

The interactive session was coordinated by Dr JS Mahal, Former Director of Extension Education. During the session, farmers shared their problems regarding paddy straw management with the experts as well as industrialists.

Dr Sunil Pabbi, Former Head, Department of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; Dr Mahesh Narang, Head, Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, PAU; Dr GS Kocher, Head, Department of Microbiology, PAU; Dr OP Choudhary, Head, Department of Soil Science, PAU, Ludhiana and Dr MS Bhullar, Head, Department of Agronomy, PAU, gave presentations on paddy straw management using de-composer, machines for paddy straw management, evaluation of different de-composers for paddy straw management, effect of in-situ paddy straw management on soil health, and practices followed for raising rabi crops in paddy straw management fields, respectively.

Dr K Anapurana, Former Head at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, also impressed upon the farmers to adopt straw management technologies.

Dr Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, while welcoming VC and the participants, said that the University has scaled up implementation of paddy straw management technologies such as Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder, Mulcher, Reversible Mould Board Plough, Super Straw Management System and zero till drill. Besides, PAU has joined hands with industry to promote rice straw management machinery.

Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, proposed a vote of thanks. On the occasion, an exhibition showcasing the crop residue management technologies developed by PAU was organised. Later, farmers visited PAU fields to see demonstrations.