Seminar to Halt Paddy Straw Burning at Khalsa College Agriculture farm Amritsar

PAU organized Seminar to Halt Paddy Straw Burning at Khalsa College, Agriculture farm, Amritsar

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana in association with PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) under its Mass Awareness Campaign - To Halt Paddy Straw Burning, organized a Seminar to raise awareness and disseminate information among farmers and students of agriculture dept. on Paddy residue management on 13 November 2017 at Khalsa College - Agriculture wing, Amritsar.

Special focus of the event was to educate farmers on Straw management technologies with practical demonstration of the Straw management machines namely, Super SMS, Cutter-cum-spreader and Happy Seeder. At the site, one acre wheat was sown with Happy Seeder machine to establish crop plantation without paddy straw burning.

Dr. Gurbaksh Singh, Associate Professor, Khalsa College welcomed all participants present on the occasion and moderated the seminar.

Shri Jaideep Singh, Convener-Amritsar Chapter, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber, in his address apprised farmers of the disadvantages of stubble burning and urged them to use balers, happy seeders, zero tillage machines, Super SMS and related technologies to control stubble burning and safeguard our environment.

He also briefed farmers and participants of the activities of PHD Chamber and informed them of the upcoming annual mega event PITEX 2017 happening at Amritsar from 7 - 11 December 2017 at Ranjjit Avenue, Amritsar.

Dr. Dalbir Singh Chhina, Chief Agriculture officer, Dept. of Agriculture, Amritsar, said we are doing our best to educate the farmers and have appealed them not to resort to stubble burning. Also informed farmers of the various subsidies provided by the Government on purchase of Paddy Straw management machines. He appealed farmers to manage crop residue to better soil health.

Dr. Mehal Singh, Principal, Khalsa College, Amritsar appreciated the efforts of PAU, PEDA and PHD Chamber for organizing such seminars on Straw management. He apprised farmers of the menace of stubble burning and its ill effects on our environment. 

Esteemed speakers, Dr.JS Gill, Agronomist, Dept. of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, PAU Ludhiana shared his rich expertise in Crop Residue management whereas  Mr. Raminder Singh, District Manager- Amritsar region, PEDA made detailed presentation on the schemes of PEDA and the subsidies available on purchase of Energy Efficient & Solar gadgets respectively.

S Rajbir Singh Gill, Member- Khalsa College Governing Council; Dr.Bhupinder Singh, Associate Director, KVK Amritsar;  Er. Ranbir Singh Randhawa, Dept. of Agriculture, Amritsar; Er. Mandeep Pujare, Project Director, Agri Tech Management Agency (ATMA), Dept. of Agriculture, Amritsar; Ms. Rimneet Kaur, Deputy Resident Director, PHD Chamber, Chandigarh and Mr. Gurbinder Singh Bajwa, Jang Progressive farmers Producer's organization(JPFO) from Gurdaspur;  Dr. Kanwaljit Singh and Mr. Amarinder Singh, Asst. Professor, Khalsa College were also present on the occasion.

The programme ended with Vote of thanks by Dr. Randeep Kaur, Dean & Head; PG-Dept. of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar.

Nearly 100 participants including Farmers, Technology Providers & Agri / Farm Equipment Manufacturers attended the programme.