LUDHIANA,

The Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Punjab, S. Arvinder Singh Bains today called for adopting suitable management measures to check paddy straw burning in the state. He was here at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to discuss the stubble burning issue with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon and other experts of PAU. “Straw is a resource which is not to be burnt but to be used for several purposes,” he observed, saying that the support of primary agricultural cooperative societies was vital in this direction. The present time calls for adopting PAU recommendations for managing crop residue in fields, he added.

Dr Dhillon voiced concern over the issues of depleting water resources and straw burning, confronting Punjab’s present-day agriculture. He also highlighted the benefits of Happy Seeder technology, the adoption of which has shown an upward trend in Punjab.

Dr G.S. Manes, Senior Research Engineer, PAU, while giving presentation on “Paddy Straw Management: Challenges and Solutions,” said that straw burning resulted in nutrient losses. Collection and in-situ management (mulching and incorporation) were the options available with the farmers, he added. Dwelling upon straw baler technology, he said straw bales could be used for making paper and cardboards, as a fuel in biomass based power plants and brick kilns, for mulching in orchards and other crops, and for animal fodder. Happy Seeder, PAU Super Straw Management System and PAU Straw Cutter-cum-Spreader technologies, and sowing of short duration rice varieties like PR 121, PR 122, PR 123, PR 124, PR 126 and PR 115 also contributed to straw management, he informed.