Having carved a niche for itself in crop residue management, the Ransih Kalan village in Moga district of Punjab has become a guiding light for the farmers of Punjab as well as the neighbouring states. Setting an extraordinary example of saying no to stubble burning for the past six years, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Sh Shivraj Chouhan hailed the strenuous efforts of the farmers of the village for adopting straw management technologies on time, thus, giving a sigh of relief to the masses by not torching the paddy straw, which has been a big source of worry across the North India for the last many years. While visiting the Moga district today and interacting with the farmers of Ransih Kalan village and experts of PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Budh Singh Wala, Moga, the Minister hailed Punjab, its farmers and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for having spared no effort in eliminating paddy straw blaze, and showing mercy towards human and animal health welfare as well as environmental protection. “This village will be a role model for all other agri-varsities, states, villages and farmers, who are resorting to paddy residue burning and polluting the environment,” he observed. Further, the Minister stressed on Punjab to show the way for crop diversification and judicious use of farm inputs as well. He also listened to the farming related problems shared by the PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Budh Singh Wala, Moga also.
During the visit, Dr ML Jat, Director General of ICAR; Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor PAU; Dr Rajbir Brar, Deputy Director General (Extension), ICAR; Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU; Dr Jaswant Singh, Director Agriculture, Punjab; Dr Parwinder Sheron, agriculture expert; Sh Sagar Setia, DC of Moga, BJP leader Sunil Jakhar; and other dignitaries also participated in the interaction.
Dr Gosal apprised the Union Minister of the exemplary efforts put in by the PAU and KVK experts, farmers of the village, and the beneficiary schemes of the government, which together have paved the way for the stubble management in the village and smooth sowing of other crops including wheat, potato and peas. This village was adopted by the KVK, Budh Singh Wala in 2020-21 and regular training and awareness camps, as well as live demonstrations on the use of Happy Seeder and mulching have demonstrated fruitful results in terms of residue management, informed PAU VC. Credit equally goes to the KVK, Budh Singh Wala Director, Dr Amandeep Singh Brar and village Sarpanch, Sardar Preet Inder Singh under whose directions, all activities were carried out and village was given a new face-lift, added Dr Gosal.
Dr Bhullar and the village Sarpanch proposed a vote of thanks.
Dr Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Institutional Linkages), PAU, conducted the programme.