Hero Kalan village in Mansa district has emerged as a 'hero' in the stubble management campaign. Last year, it was among the hotspot villages, this year, it is one of the zero-burning villages. Deputy Commissioner Mansa, Navjot Kaur IAS visited the fields of Hero Kalan village, where farmers were sowing wheat while managing stubble using a mulcher, MB plough and super seeder.
The Deputy Commissioner and SSP Bhagirath Singh Meena appreciated the farmers. Farmer Lakhwinder Singh and Gurmeet Singh s/o Jaswant Singh residents of Hero Kalan said that the they manage stubble in 26 acres with in situ technique using super seeder, MB plough and mulcher.
Agricultural Development Officer Amandeep Singh said that in 2023, there were 45 stubble fire incidents in the village; in 2024, there were 15, making it the second-highest hotspot village. This year, there have been zero cases so far. The Deputy Commissioner praised the farmers and urged them to motivate others.
Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner and SSP visited the farm of Kulwinder Singh in Kotra Kalan village, where stubble is being managed using a super seeder and baler in 20 acres. They also visited Bhikhi village, where farmer Manjit Singh was making bales in 20 acres using a baler.
Officials said that there has been 60 percent fall in fire incidents this year. Last year, 185 cases were reported till November 2, compared to 76 incidents recorded this year up to the same day.
Agricultural Development Officer Jasleen Kaur said that this year paddy was sown in 1,45,839 hectares of area in Mansa district, from which an estimated 9.18 lakh metric tons of stubble is to be produced. She said that 85% of the crop has been harvested in the district and 58% of the stubble has been managed and 15 types of private industries are taking stubble in the district.
165 balers provided on subsidy and 30 private balers are working the fields. Along with this, farmers are managing stubble with 5048 in situ machines such as paddy straw chopper, mulcher, super seeder, smart seeder and happy seeder provided on subsidy, she added.