Centre directs Punjab, Haryana to ramp up farmer awareness

Ahead of the winter season, the Centre on Tuesday directed Punjab, Hary-ana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to intensify awareness campaigns among farmers about stubble management methods to curb air pollution, with a particular focus on stubble collection and storage for industrial utilisation.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

At a crucial meeting on stubble management chaired by Union Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Environment minister Bhupender Yadav, representatives from the four northern states briefed officials on the implementation of stubble management schemes in their respective states.

Appreciating the states’ efforts, Chouhan stressed the need to enhance public awareness among farmers and suggested that “panchayats, local representatives, and nodal officers should be actively involved at the village level to achieve better outcomes”.

Chouhan said he will personally begin wheat sowing in his own field on October 12, immediately after the paddy harvest, to set an example for farmers. “When farmers see me doing it, they too will be encouraged to adopt direct sowing.” the Union Minister said in a statement.