Farmers Movement Archive

Despite ban, farmers resort to burning of crop residue

Amritsar, May 18Despite a ban on burning of crop residue in fields, farmers continue to flout the restrictions.A visit to rural areas revealed that apart from crop residue in wheat fields, stray fires also burnt green belts alongside roads. The burning of crop residue in fields, which was being done during late evening hours to evade detection so far in this season, was seen openly in the day on Sunday.After harvesting wheat crop and making hay for animals from the residue, farmers are now getting ready to prepare the fields for paddy transplantation. As the government has advanced paddy transplantation date by 10 days to June 10 this season, the farmers are left with only 20 days.While the government has been working to check the practice for years, a farmer said, “Crop residue floats to the surface after puddling and it will now allow paddy saplings to grow. Further as it would float on the surface and with change in the wind direction, it will move on the water surface and can destroy saplings by uprooting them.”Chief Agricultural Officer Dr Gurdial Singh Bal said, “Our teams are already keeping a watch and those who have resorted to burning will face action. It is in the interest of farmers as setting crop residue on fire affects soil health and nutrients.”

The Tribune

2020-05-19