Ludhiana,
The Department of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana celebrated field day on paddy straw management in the village Ghulul in collaboration with KVK, Samrala. The field day was organized under the project funded by NABARD, which was attended by more than 130 farmers. Addressing the gathering of farmers, Dr S.C.Sharma, Associate Director KVK, Samrala discussed various effects of paddy straw burning on human health, soil health and environment. He also shared the information about extension activities of KVK being conducted for the welfare of farmers.

Dr J.S.Bhalla, Professor and Head, Department of extension education advised the farmers to purchase the machinery required for paddy straw management on cooperative basis and share the expenses. He also motivated and took the consent of participating farmers to shun away the practice of paddy straw burning. Dr Baldev Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Ludhiana spoke on this occasion and emphasized that crop residues are rich source of nutrients and assured them to provide every help in paddy straw management.

Dr Jasveer Singh Gill, Assistant Agronomist, delineated the alternatives available to manage the crop residue. While interacting with the farmers, he also answered their queries in using PAU happy seeder and PAU Cutter cum Spreader. Dr Jagroop Kaur, an expert from Department of Agronomy apprised the farmers about recommended cultivation practices of summer and kharif crops. NABARD representatives Sh Vikas Bhatt and Sh Parveen Bhatia also interacted with the farmers on this occasion.

Dr Dharminder Singh asked the farmers to adopt paddy straw management techniques keeping in view the resources available with them. He also thanked the dignitaries and farmers for participating in the programme.

Later, the participating farmers visited the demonstration site of wheat crop sown with PAU Happy Seeder and appreciated the crop.