Punjab News: Officials in Punjab are hopeful that by promoting the cultivation of paddy varieties with shorter maturation periods, they can significantly reduce stubble burning incidents by 50% this season. Stubble burning, a practice that involves burning the remains of harvested crops, contributes to air pollution, particularly in Delhi, during the winter months.
However, despite these efforts, the number of stubble burning incidents has nearly doubled compared to the previous two years. Between September 15 and October 3, Punjab recorded 561 farm fires, with 105 occurring on Tuesday, 119 on Monday, and 123 on Sunday. In contrast, in the same period in 2022 and 2021, there were 350 and 237 fires, respectively.
Paddy is cultivated in approximately 32 lakh hectares in Punjab
To address the issue, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann recently announced a ban on the Pusa44 variety of rice starting from the next planting season. He encouraged farmers to discontinue the cultivation of Pusa44 and other long-duration paddy varieties due to their high water consumption and longer maturation periods. Mann explained that these water-intensive varieties take longer to ripen and produce larger amounts of stubble. Since winds and colder weather after October exacerbate pollution in Delhi, an earlier clearance of fields for wheat sowing under favorable weather conditions could help prevent smoke from drifting toward the national capital.
However, this ban has faced resistance from farmers who argue that it will lead to financial losses. They contend that Pusa44 yields significantly more per acre compared to PR126, another variety. According to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, “Pusa44 produces up to 40 quintals an acre, whereas PR126 yields 25-30 quintals. Farmers have to earn some money from the harvests to meet expenses.”
This situation highlights the complex challenge of addressing stubble burning while balancing the economic interests of farmers, which remains a significant concern in the region.
Also Read: ABC sends Chandrababu Naidu to 14-day judicial remand in corruption case
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK
