Farmer Awareness and Village Level Entrepreneur Development Workshop on Crop Residue Management organised at Jodhan village

Ludhiana, April 10, 2026: A Farmer Awareness and Village Level Entrepreneur Development Workshop on Crop Residue Management (CRM) was successfully organised at Jodhan village in Pakhowal Block of Ludhiana district to promote sustainable crop residue management practices and create awareness among farmers about government support schemes and modern agricultural technologies.
The programme was organised by GIZ India in collaboration with Grant Thornton Bharat, and supported by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab.
The workshop witnessed participation from progressive farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), local aggregators, agricultural experts, and government officials, who discussed practical solutions for managing paddy straw in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Welcoming the participants, Manpreet Singh, Manager, Grant Thornton Bharat, highlighted the importance of collaboration between government institutions, development organisations, and farmers to address the challenge of crop residue burning and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Prempreet Singh Agriculture Officer Jodhan emphasised the need to strengthen village-level entrepreneurship and develop sustainable value chains for the effective utilisation of crop residues.
During the workshop, Dr Ranjeet Singh Principal Scientist from ICAR CIPHET presented an overview of crop residue management initiatives and the importance of adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Speaking on the occasion, Gagandeep Kaur Block Agriculture Officer, Pakhowal Block, informed farmers about various in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management practices being promoted by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab. She highlighted the government’s support through subsidies on CRM machinery such as Happy Seeder, Super SMS, Straw Reaper, Mulcher, and Rotavator, which help farmers manage crop residues efficiently without burning.
Dr. Gurdeep Singh, Chief Agriculture, Officer Ludhiana, also addressed the gathering and emphasised the importance of adopting scientific methods of crop residue management to protect soil health, reduce air pollution, and ensure sustainable agricultural development in the state.
Agri Experts from Ludhiana shared scientific insights and innovative approaches for sustainable crop residue management, while stakeholders and aggregators discussed opportunities for the utilisation of paddy straw in bio-energy plants, biomass power plants, packaging industries, and other value-added sectors.
The programme concluded with an interactive discussion where farmers shared their experiences, suggestions, and queries regarding crop residue management, followed by a vote of thanks and networking session.
Such initiatives play a crucial role in creating awareness among farmers, strengthening institutional collaboration, and promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices in Punjab.