How Krishi Vigyan Kendra is helping farmers to avoid stubble burning

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Booh village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, under the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University of Ludhiana and supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Atari zone 1, has been working with farmers in the region to impart technical knowledge and promote agricultural technologies. Balwinder Kumar, deputy director of KVK, tells Ishani Duttagupta about the different programmes the kendra uses to help farmers avoid stubble burning. Edited excerpts:
Do you see a change in the mindset of farmers in dealing with paddy stubble?
We started counselling farmers in Booh Havelien and Jauneke villages (Tarn Taran district) in June. The message was very strong — no burning paddy residue in the fields. We have reached out to over 2,000 farmers, who plough over 1,500 acres, directly through this programme and we are certain that over 90% of them will not burn stubble in their fields this season.

But are the farmers willing to bear the extra cost that comes with stubble management?
We have been organising farmers’ melas in the district. We make sure that the machines used to clear the stubble are provided at 10-15% discount by the companies. However, this region has medium to very small and marginal farmers and some of them have small land holdings. To help small and marginal farmers, KVK has acquired equipment that we rent out at nominal costs and sometimes even free. The stubble burning season has already started in this region and most of the farmers are using paddy wastes to make animal fodder.


What are some of the challenges that farmers face in the region?
This is a district which is close to the international border and life is tough for people here. Farmers have not received much education and training on crop rotation, less dependency on paddy and use of machinery. We are trying to change and hope to expand to many more villages soon.