Stubble burning on the wane in Punjab, thanks to Reviving Green Revolution Cell

Stubble Burning: Stubble burning cases reduced year by year in Punjab, see special report According to experts, the story of Punjab's agriculture, which brought the green revolution, is that the farmer is trapped in higher expenses with higher yields. Green Cell is sensitizing farmers for stubble management and water conservation. In this report, see how the stubble burning statistics have been evaluated year after year. Ludhiana: When the Green Revolution brought about the supply of grain to fill the belly of the country, then Punjab supplied the country with wheat and rice. After increasing the grain reserves of the country, due to the high yield, the farmers of Punjab were surrounded by many such problems, which they themselves were unaware of. Green Revolution Cell was formed in the year 2002 with the collaboration of Tata Group, Government of Punjab, Central Government and Agricultural Universities. Although its working started in 2008, first in 6 districts and now in 3800 villages of 12 districts, farmers are provided with modern technology, saving farming costs, improving soil quality, less fertilizers, stubble management, bringing more yield with less cost. This cell has made an important contribution. The cell is working between Ferozepur and Moga districts to deal with the declining water level and the emerging problem of drinking water in Punjab. The period of this cell started in 2008 is till 2025. This cell has set a target that they will work tirelessly to bring lower costs and higher profits to the farmers in Punjab. Agricultural Problems: There are various problems related to agriculture in Punjab, one of which is stubble management, although for many decades farmers used to believe in burning stubble to weed their fields, but now Happy Seeder, Super Seeder 20 percent of the farmers have avoided burning the stubble in the fields by spreading the stubble in the SWCT and the field, direct sowing. Sources of Awareness: Green Revolution Cell has adopted various methods to sensitize the people in the villages not to burn stubble, including announcements among the Gurdwara Sahibs, distribution of templates, street plays, 1 agricultural warrior for every 12 villages. Farmers are made aware about selection, going to farmers and knowing their problems, providing them with machines as per requirement, new technology, new seeds, modern methods. The head and members of the cell said that we went to the villages in the district where most fires were set, and with the help of the government, a bonus of Rs 2800 per acre was given to the farmers and farmers were asked not to set fire to stubble in at least two acres. Made aware of

Chandigarh: Reviving Green Revolution Cell was set up in 2002 with the collaboration of Tata Group, the Punjab government, the Central government and Agricultural Universities, although it started working in 2008 in six districts and is now spread in 3,800 villages of 12 districts. Now, this Cell has made an important contribution in providing farmers with modern technology, saving agricultural expenses, increasing soil quality, less fertilizers, stubble management and bringing more yield with less cost.

The Cell is monitoring Ferozepur and Moga districts to deal with the declining water level and the emerging problem of drinking water in Punjab. This Cell, which started in 2008, will continue its work till 2025. The target set by this Cell is that they will work tirelessly to bring lower costs and higher profits to the farmers in Punjab.

There are many problems related to agriculture in Punjab, one of which is stubble management, although for many decades farmers used to believe in burning stubble to weed their fields, now the Happy Seeder machine not only sows the seeds, but also removes the straw at the same time and that led to 20 per cent reduction in stubble burning. In 2022, 30 per rcent reduction in stubble burning was reported in Punjab, 59,695 in 2018, 50,738 in 2019, 79,093 in 2020, 78,550 in 2021 and 53,792 in 2022. In 2023, there were 4,204 stubble-burning cases were reported in Punjab.

Reviving Green Revolution Cell is creating awareness among people in villages not to burn stubble by adopting different methods. In which, announcements among the Gurudwaras, distribution of brochures, staging of street plays, selection of one agricultural warrior for every 12 villages, paying a visit to the farmers to know their problems, providing them with machines as needed, new technology, new seeds and asking them to adopt modern methods.

The head and members of the Cell said that they went to the villages in the district where most stubbles were set on fire and with the help of the government, a bonus of Rs 2,800 per acre was announced to the farmers and they were asked not to set fire to stubble in at least two acres. Currently, this project is being run in 12 districts across Punjab, and the awareness campaign is being run in 3,800 villages, said Baljinder Singh Saini, Head, Reviving Green Revolution Cell.