Students should come forward to check problem of burning paddy straw: Dr Mahal

Ludhiana: A function to create awareness about ill effects of burning of paddy straw was organised at Punjab Agricultural University, here on September 11. This function was organised in collaboration with Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and under the leadership of Director Extension Education PAU. This function was attended by NSS volunteers of five universities namely Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana, Panjab University Chandigarh, Punjabi University Patiala, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) Ludhiana and Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar. Dr Jaskaran Singh Mahal, Director, Extension Education, PAU presided over this function. Dr Harish Kumar Verma, Director Extension Education GADVASU, Dr Charanjit Singh, Deputy Director, PPCB and Dr Didar Singh Bhatti, Additional Director Extension Education PAU were also present in the function. While addressing the NSS volunteers, Dr Jaskaran Singh Mahal said that for not only Punjab, but saving our natural resources is major issue for the entire country. He said that air and water are one of the most important natural resources. Dr Mahal stated that although our air is getting polluted through other reasons, but burning of paddy straw is considered one of the main reasons behind it for last some years. He said that now students have taken this responsibility to spread message of ill effects of burning paddy straw door to door. While addressing the students, Dr Jaskaran Singh Mahal said that although it is difficult to educate the farmers in this regard, but if we become partners in their problems, we can easily spread this message that burning of paddy straw is polluting our environment. He said that for the last almost two decades, PAU has been developing machinery required for in-situ management of paddy straw and farm residue. He stated that last year also, PAU had made efforts to check this menace of burning paddy straw by making close contact with the farmers. He expressed hope that this year too, the NSS volunteers would take this message to every rural household that is involved in farming and would urge them to adopt latest machinery to manage paddy straw and other crop residue. Dr Harish Kumar Verma said that with the help of TMR (total mixed ration) technique, paddy straw can either be used as fodder or as a carpet for animals. Dr Charanjit Singh shared the efforts of PPCB in this regard. Several experts from PAU also addressed the students and shared several innovative techniques for paddy straw management. It is pertinent to mention that students from different schools/colleges of Sangrur, Jalandhar, Abohar, Muktsar, Moga, Jagraon, Ferozepur, Samrala, Khanna and Ahmedgarh areas also attended this function along with their teachers.