Successful visit of Argentine Embassy Representative to Punjab for Crop Residue Management Insights

Ludhiana, November 26, 2023: In a proactive initiative, Mariano Beheran from the Embassy of Argentina along with a team undertook a two-day visit to Punjab, Coordinated by Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone-I, Ludhiana. The purpose of the visit was to observe and understand the crop residue management practices in the region.

Accompanied by a team, including representatives from Delhi and Haryana, Mariano's itinerary was packed with insightful visits. On the first day, the team explored Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Fatehgarh Sahib, and various villages in the district. They witnessed firsthand the implementation of different crop residue management practices such as Happy Seeder, Smart Seeder, and Super Seeder for wheat crop sowing without resorting to burning rice residue. The team interacted with local farmers about the effectiveness of these practices. Further, they visited learning platforms established by KVKs to educate farmers on various rice residue management techniques. Dr. Parvender Sheoran and Dr. Vipan Rampal explained the significance of these platforms, emphasizing their role in studying the long-term impact on crop yield and soil health.

On the second day of the visit, Mariano and the team had the opportunity to meet the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. They engaged with experts at PAU, where a comprehensive presentation provided detailed insights into the development of machinery and techniques for effective rice residue management. Following this, the team visited the farm of Satnam Singh in Ludhiana, who has successfully cultivated wheat and potato on 150 acres without resorting to the burning of rice residue. During the visit, Mr. Mariano addressed the challenges faced by farmers, with a specific focus on the limited time window between paddy harvest and the sowing of rabi crops. Farmers emphasized the crucial need for timely availability of machinery and discussed the financial hurdles associated with high initial investment and operating costs.

Impressed with the efforts of ATARI, PAU, and KVKs in creating awareness about rice residue management, Mariano commended Punjab farmers for their dedication. The visit served as a valuable exchange of knowledge and experiences, fostering collaboration between Argentina and Punjab in sustainable agriculture practices.