Farmers prefer in-situ management to manage paddy residue

The paddy farmers who have adopted crop residue management (CRM) have been giving preference to in-situ management over ex-situ to manage the crop residue in Ambala.

Nearly 2.46 lakh acres under paddy crop were registered on the ‘Meri Fasal, Mera Byora’ portal in the district, and over 37,000 farmers had registered for Rs 1,200 per acre incentive for the in-situ and ex-situ stubble management on over 2.2 lakh acres.

According to Agriculture Department officials, as mixing stubble back into the soil boosts its fertility, reduces the need for fertiliser and pesticides for the next crop, improves yield and benefits farmers economically, farmers have been preferring in-situ management.

Besides these, the machines required for in-situ management are available with farmers, while there is a shortage of the baler machines required for ex-situ management in which the bales are prepared and then the farmers wait for the fields to get vacated. The harvesting is still on and the farmers have been managing their crop residue accordingly.

As per the data procured from the Agriculture Department, so far in Barara block, of the total harvesting, while in-situ was adopted in over 25,300 acres, ex-situ was adopted on nearly 2,950 acre; in Saha block, in-situ was adopted on over 18,200 acres, ex-situ was on around 3,000 acres. Similarly, in Ambala-1 block, while in-situ has been adopted on over 16,150 acres, ex-situ was adopted on nearly 8,900 acres.

In Block Ambala-II, the area managed with the in-situ management was around 21,000 acres and ex-situ was around 3,200 acres; in Naraingarh block, while the in-situ has been done on over 14,500 acres, ex-situ on 5,350 acre; and in Shahzadpur block, in-situ was adopted on 13,300 acres and ex-situ was on 5,400 acres so far.

Dr Jagmohan Singh, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Ambala, said, “In-situ management has various benefits as it increases the fertility of the soil, improves the water-holding capacity and organic carbon, and saves the friendly insects too. With the help of superseeder, mulcher and rotavator, the residue is mixed back into the soil. It reduces the requirement of fertiliser and other nutrients for the next crop.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) Ambala Dr Jasvinder Saini said, “Farmers have been showing interest in the crop residue management as it is beneficial for soil health and as well as for the environment. Of the total farmers who adopted the crop residue management in Ambala, around 70 per cent of farmers preferred in-situ management technique and 30 per cent preferred ex-situ management. Mixing the residue back into the soil will decrease the requirement of fertiliser and will improve the fertility of the soil. The physical and biological properties of the soil increase and it is considered a cost-effective method too. The officials of the department have been continuously visiting the fields to help the farmers in the residue management and, due to the cooperation of the farmers, no farm fire incident was reported up to October 20. Nearly 80 per cent harvesting has been completed so far,” he added.

Haryana Tribune