Mehma Sarja’s Jagtar Brar managing paddy stubble since 2012
KS Diwan/ royalpatiala.in/ Bathinda
Village Mehma Sarja’s farmer Jagtar Brar has been managing the paddy stubble/straw in his fields since 2012. He has also been sharing his stubble/straw management agriculture implements with the other farmers free of cost.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s scientists Prakash Singh Sidhu, Gurmeet Singh Dhillon and Jatinder Singh Barr said that farmer Jagta Brar tills his own 40 acres of land as well as another 40 acres taken on contract.
Keeping in view the harmful effects of burning paddy stubble/straw, he gave up the practice of setting agriculture residue on fire in the year 2012. Inspired by the Punjab Agricultural University and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, he has first used baler in his fields in year 2012. Bundles of paddy straw were and sold off to power company thereby earning handsome profit. Thereafter, he never used baler in his fields as he opines that taking off straw from the fields leaves the soil bereft of nutrition it can derive from straw turning into fertilizer. In the year 2014, he used chopper to chop down straw into tiny pieces. Using different agriculture implements like deep ploughing ploughs, rotavator and disc harrows he put the straw back into soil increasing its fertility. In the following years he noticed better soil health.
In the year 2016, Jagtar Brar used reversible MB ploughs he bought Italy- company made mulchers. After harvesting the paddy, the remaining roots and stalks of plants were managed using this machine. These machines are operated with 40 to 50 HP of tractors and can manage paddy straw in 6 to 8 acres of land in a day. Using reversible MB plough, in the second round, the side of plough is changed and running on the same track soil is piled on one side. This ensures that the level of fields is maintained. It digs soil by 15 to 30 cm deep and buries straw into it.
Thereafter, using rotavators or disc harrows, the field is prepared for sowing next crop. Using the reversible MB plough, straw is buried back into the soil improving its health and thereby minimizing need to use chemical fertilizers and increase yield.In year 2017, PAU awarded him with Innovating Farmer award.
