Fatehgarh Sahib: The burning of crops by farmers was causing loss to nutrients worth Rs 350 crore in the state alone besides causing environmental pollution and damaging biodiversity, said Dr AK Dhawan, director of Central Soil and Materials Research Station.
Dhawan was here as a part of the zonal monitoring committee of the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad that visited Badhouchhi Kalan village in the district to monitor the progress under the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) of the Indian Council for Agricultural Reaserch.
Associate director of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Dr GPS Sodhi said that NICRA project is being operated by KVK since 2011 in pilot mode in 100 villages in India and Badhouchhi Kalan was one of the four villages of Punjab.
The team monitored the climate resilient activities based on national resource management, crop production and livestock modules. The team also discussed various aspects related to the effect of climate change on crops and livestock.
The team also looked at various interventions made by KVK, Fatehgarh Sahib including on happy seeder technology, laser land leveler, biogas plants and vermi compost units.
Dr AK Tiwari, director, Soil Conservation Institute, Chandigarh told the gathered farmers the variability in rainfall pattern during March has spoiled the bumper crop in Punjab and Haryana.