Paddy farmers warned against burning stubble

Key Points:

Paddy farmers have been asked not to burn stubble after harvest, as burning residue is a punishable offence
Burning stubble damages the organic matter in the soil’s top layer and reduces its fertility
Under the chief minister’s smog control programme, 10,000 super seeders were provided to farmers this year at 60% subsidy, costing Rs5.5 billion
Farmers have been advised to mix stubble into the soil with a rotavator or a disc harrow and to prefer a super seeder for wheat sowing

FAISALABAD: The Punjab Agriculture Department has warned paddy farmers against burning stubble after harvest, calling it a punishable offence.

The Agriculture Department spokesman said burning paddy stubble damaged the organic matter in the soil’s top layer and reduced its fertility.

The spokesman said 10,000 super seeders were provided to farmers this year at 60% subsidy under the chief minister’s smog control programme, costing Rs5.5 billion, so residue could be put to use through modern machinery.

He advised farmers to mix the stubble into the soil instead of burning it, with a rotavator after manual harvesting and a disc harrow after machine harvesting.

According to the spokesman, farmers could also deep-plough the field, apply half a bag of urea per acre and irrigate, which raised the soil’s fertility and productivity.

The spokesman said farmers should prefer a super seeder for wheat sowing.

The spokesman said burning paddy stubble and straw was a punishable offence under the Punjab government’s instructions. He said fines were being imposed and arrests made against those who burned residue.

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