Chandigarh: Government of Punjab is making consistent efforts to create awareness amongst the farmers in the state about the ill-effects of crop residue burning especially paddy straw. 

As a part of Awareness campaign Department of Agriculture Punjab in collaboration with Petroleum Conservation Research Association, a Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas organization will be operating two suitably designed van in the interiors of the State to educate the farmers & people about the ill-effects of crop residue burning. 

These Vans were flagged off Today by Sh. M.P Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Punjab in presence of Sh. Naveen Gulati, Director & Chief Regional Coordinator (NR), Petroleum Conservation Research Association, Northern Region. Mr. Jasbir Singh Bains, Director Agriculture and Sh. Manmohan Kalia, Joint Director Agriculture (Engg.) were also present. 

These vans will operate from September 2017 to November 2017 and will be showing videos/ short clips on management techniques, distributing literature in all the districts and all blocks of the State. The officers of Agriculture department will accompany the vans and make them aware of the management options for crop residue. 

Mr. M.P Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Punjab told that the state government is also organizing camps to sensitize the people/ farmers about management options for residue. 

He said that efforts are being made to provide the various residue management implements on subsidy to the farmers. He appealed to the farmers not to burn the paddy straw in the ensuing harvesting season given its harmful effects on the environment, human and animal health.         

The Agriculture Department has already sanctioned applications of farmers/had provided 210 no's of Happy Seeder, 383 no's of Paddy straw chopper Shredder/ Mulcher, 119 no's of Reversible Hydraulic MB Plough for subsidy @ 50% of the cost. 150 no's of Baler and 109 no's of rakes are being provided on subsidy. 

Subsidy has also been announced @ Rs.50,000/- on Super SMS that would be given to combine machine operators provided that Super SMS is as per the design of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.

 Apart from this the Department of Agriculture has organized 2472 training and awareness camps at village, block and district level, during the current year up to August 2017. The Government is trying its best to motivate farmers not to burn paddy straw.