Cheema Brothers of Village Teipur: A Model for Sustainable Farming without Burning Stubble
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ October 8,2024
To help reduce environmental pollution, farmers in Patiala district are adopting modern farming machinery to manage crop residue. Among them are Gurmukh Singh and Jatinder Singh, brothers from Village Teipur, in Patran sub division, Patiala district who have not burned stubble on their 10 acres of land for the past nine years. By planting wheat without burning the leftover straw, they have not only increased their income but also contributed to a cleaner environment.
Farmer Gurmukh Singh explained that since 2015, they have been incorporating stubble back into the soil without burning it. He uses a combine harvester equipped with a Super SMS and then plants wheat using a Super Seeder. Sharing his farming experience, Gurmukh noted that by mixing stubble into the soil, the salinity in the land has decreased, fertility has increased, and the use of urea fertilizer has been cut in half.
He further added that crop yields have improved, and the quality and color of the crops have seen noticeable enhancements. There is also a reduction in pest attacks, and the soil’s ability to absorb water has increased, eliminating the growth of weeds in the fields.
Gurmukh Singh highlighted that the Super Seeder is not only environmentally friendly but also offers several other benefits, including faster wheat sowing in a single pass and significant time savings. He emphasized that wheat sown using the Super Seeder requires less water compared to crops sown after burning stubble.
The progressive farmer urged other farmers to embrace modern machinery to protect the environment from pollution. He stated that by using advanced technology, farmers can save both money and time while also enhancing the fertility of their land.
