Initiative to encourage and educate farmers about crop residue management and sustainable practices

Ludhiana, September 2, 2019: In an initiative to encourage and educate farmers across 6 districts and adjoining areas about crop residue management and sustainable practices, Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) and India Paryavaran Sahayak Foundation conducted special workshops at BISA research Farm in Ladowal, Ludhiana on 19th, 23rd, 27th and 30th August.

Over 200 farmers were given a detailed understanding through an interactive session and hands on training which helped them learn the nuances and various aspects of crop residue management.

Elaborate session involved exposure visit on residue management, how to manage residue in fields, appropriate machines that are effective in residue management, sowing of wheat using Happy Seeder, benefits of Super SMS operations and ill effects of burning - human health, soil, environment etc.

Dr. Harminder Singh Sidhu – Sr. Research Engineer, BISA, said,” To encourage the farmer for rice residue management, they should be aware of a solution which is feasible, Economical, sustainable and scalable. Harvesting rice with a combine having Super SMS and seeding wheat with Happy Seeder is the best option available till date among all options. It saves environment, water, energy, time, cost of planting, suppress weeds and manage weather risks. The capacity building of the farmers, custom operators and field functionaries on this technique is the key to the success to eliminate crop residue burning.”

Elaborating on the workshop, Ritesh Bhatia, CEO, India Paryavaran Sahayak Foundation said, “It is encouraging to see the response of the workshops that were organised with the sole objective to drive home the message of sustainable crop residue management and an overwhelming acceptance by our farmer friends is heartening. Our association with BISA for this mission is to bring about the genuine adoption of various post-harvest residue management practices in the farmers which shall be a true testimony of our value addition in this field.”

Over the last few years smog has been in news and irresponsible residue management has been the center point among all debates. Parallel to various government initiatives and scheme, the factors that impact environment, human health and soil led BISA & India Paryavaran Sahayak Foundation to come together and bring a meaningful change in the farming practices.