Malerkotla, July 29:
Under the directions of Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, the guidance of Gurjit Singh Brar, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, and the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Viraj S. Tirke, teams from the Agriculture Department, led by Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Harbans Singh Sidhu, carried out physical verification of agricultural machinery provided to farmers under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme in various villages across Malerkotla district.
Department officials said that the primary objective of the verification drive was to ensure the proper use of the machines and facilitate the timely release of subsidy benefits to eligible farmers. They added that the Punjab Government is committed to promoting effective crop residue management and that the efficient use of agricultural machinery offers a sustainable solution to the problem of stubble burning.
Agriculture officials explained that burning crop residue increases air pollution, destroys beneficial microorganisms in the soil, and adversely affects soil fertility. They emphasized that scientific management of crop residue through Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Super SMS, Shredder, Baler, and other CRM machines helps preserve valuable nutrients in the soil, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and improves overall soil health.
As part of the campaign, the Agriculture Department also organized special awareness drives in Lasoi and Mohala villages. During these programmes, farmers were encouraged not to burn paddy stubble, to make maximum use of CRM machinery, and to adopt scientific methods for managing crop residue.
The Agriculture Department appealed to all farmers in the district to avoid stubble burning and instead adopt modern agricultural practices and CRM machinery. The department said that these measures will help protect the environment, maintain soil fertility, and promote sustainable agriculture.