ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research
Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana in collaboration with ICAR-Central Soil Salinity
Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal organized one day National Dialogue on
"Paddy Straw Management Towards Achieving Mission Zero Burning" on 26th
October 2024. The Secretary (DARE) and DG (ICAR), Dr. Himanshu Pathak, was the
Chief Guest for this programme. This dialogue included elaborated discussion on
all possible strategies to tackle the environmental and agricultural challenges
associated with paddy straw burning, particularly in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh. Live demonstrations of various in-situ and ex-situ paddy
straw management options; Happy Seeder, Smart Seeder, Super Seeder, Surface
Seeder, Bailers etc. were displayed for awareness to the participating
stakeholders
In his inaugural address, Dr Himanshu Pathak
emphasized that paddy straw burning is not only the problem of a particular
state but it’s a national-wide issue which needs to be addressed following
collaborative efforts of all individuals including farmers, researchers,
extension functionaries as well as policy planners. He motivated the farmers to
follow the CRM pledge taken during this event for not burning the paddy straw and
save their own soil and earth. Also, he urged the farmers to make aware of all
the available technologies in management of paddy straw. Apart from region-specific
or farmer-centric mechanical management tools, various other factors like selecting
a suitable variety, irrigation requirements etc. also shall be taken into
consideration. The successful implementation of action plans by ATARIs and all KVKs
in organizing the defined IEC activities is pivotal to create desired awareness
and capacity building of all stakeholders towards environmentally safe
milestone of Achieving Zero Burning Mission.
Before that, Dr Parvender Sheoran, Director,
ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana briefed about the present scenario of crop residue
management and various efforts initiated by ATARIs and KVKs for paddy straw
management. He informed that more than 1350 villages being adopted by KVKs
under CRM project and 300+ villages have been transformed into burning free
villages in Punjab, Haryana and UP. He also outlined the scope of further
improvement in potential use of available CRM machines at farmers’ and CHC
level. Establishing CRM technology parks, carbon farming, KVKs as model CHCs
are some of new initiatives to be undertaken by ICAR. Director, ATARI-Jodhpur,
DR. JP Mishra categorically emphasized the need of highlighting the tangible
and intangible benefits of adopting CRM technologies and incentivizing farmers.
Dr S.K. Chaudhari, DDG (NRM), the Special Guest of
this programme, recalled the machines-based technology as business model which
should not be followed totally for CRM. He proposed natural farming as an
alternate option to manage rice residues and improve soil health. He
highlighted the importance of capacity building, feed-back of farmers and line
departments, active role of CHCs in designing the ex-situ and in-situ
frameworks for paddy straw management. Dr Rajbir Singh, ADG (NRM) shared his experiences
in meticulously designing the road map for successful implementation of IEC
activities. Dr R.K. Singh, ADG (Agril. Extension) insisted for region-specific
solutions and collaborative action plans for effective convergence and reach
the last mile farmers. Directors of Extension Education, KVK personnel and CRM farmers
also shared their view points and provided constructive feedback to further
strengthen the CRM programme.
More than 400 participants including the farmers, PCs
and Nodal Officers of 60 implementing KVKs, scientists form ICAR institutes,
environmentalists, policymakers, and representatives from the agricultural
industry participated in this event. Various innovative and sustainable
approaches were discussed during this dialogue to manage the in-situ paddy
straw management and utilizing paddy straw, such as converting it into
bioenergy, compost, and industrial products. The dialogue focused on practical
solutions, such as the use of new technologies, incentivizing farmers to adopt
alternatives, and strengthening policies aimed at achieving the Mission Zero
Burning.