Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, October 31
In what appears to be a setback to the efforts of the Punjab Government to prevent burning of stubble, not a single farmer out of 2,475 applicants has got farm machinery to date in the current financial year. The government has sanctioned 630 machines and equipment for stubble management to the district to date.
Of these, 555 machines have come for custom hiring centres (CHCs), 40 for Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and 19 for panchayats, while the rest for 16 individual farmers from the reserved category. Authorities have decided to conduct physical verification of machines and equipment from Monday.
2,475 seek equipment
- As many as 630 machines have been sanctioned for crop residue management
- Not a single farmer of all 2,475 applicants has got farm machinery to date
However, the lack of machinery for individuals may spell more trouble as farmers have already announced to set their stubble on fire in the absence of special financial aid to manage crop residue. “We know the risks involved in burning stubble, but we do not have any alternative,” said Kulwinder Singh, a farmer from Sangrur.
Machinery on way
Machinery is coming. Farmers should utilise the ones provided to panchayats and other centres. —JS Grewal, Sangrur chief agriculture officer
Another farmer from Duggan village, Balwinder Singh, said his relatives had applied on government portal for the stubble management machine. “But the government has not sanctioned it as yet. It seems the government also does not want us to shun stubble burning,” he said.
To prevent any foul play in the purchase of machinery, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has decided to conduct physical verification. Authorities have fixed special sites in Moonak, Bhawanigarh, Dhuri , Sherpur, Malerkotla, Dirba, Lehra, Ahemadgarh, Sangrur city and Sunam.
Sangrur Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Jaswinder Singh Grewal said the Punjab Government had been helping farmers with all possible ways to prevent burning of stubble. “Machinery and equipment are coming. Farmers should utilise the ones sanctioned to PACS, CHCs and panchayats, if any individual has not got one as yet. Our officers are visiting all villages and we request farmers to manage stubble without burning,” said Grewal.
No stubble management machine yet for Sangrur farmers
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