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Punjab

Youth clubs transforming stubble management into employment opportunities

ASHOK KAURA | October 23, 2020 04:31 PM

PHILLAUR:Helping farmers to manage paddy straw at nominal cost, youth clubs in the district are transforming stubble management tasks into employment opportunities for the youths. Nine youths of village Uppal Jagir have roped in together to manage paddy stubble in the village as they have planned to manage about 60 percent area under paddy cultivation of their village.

Giving more information about the working of the youth club, village Sarpanch Harpreet Singh said that the club named Uppal Kissan Sewa Society has procured baler and rake machines availing the 50 percent subsidy scheme on stubble management equipment from the government. He further mentioned that the club charge Rs. 600 only per acre as the cost of the diesel to bale paddy straw adding that the club sells the baled paddy straw to the electricity plant situated at village Bir Pind, Nakodar at a price worth Rs. 135 per quintal.

Divulging more, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Surinder Singh said that with this unique initiative, youths of the village were not only helping manage stubble efficiently but also transforming straw management into an employment opportunity. The club has planned to manage 60 percent of the crop residue of the village during the current season adding Dr. Singh said that various youth clubs in the district were following their footprints.

He mentioned that many youth clubs were seeking subsidized machinery from the department to start their own stubble management business. The Chief Agriculture Officer added that another youth club named Shaheed Udham Singh Sports and Youth Services of village Navan Pind Donwal, Shahkot block was also making extraordinary efforts in stubble management by roping in youths of the village along.

Dr. Singh further called upon farmers and youths to join hand with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led state government in its initiative to curtail stubble burning practices by adopting straw management measures and getting various high-tech machinery on attractive subsidized rates. He said that the gases produced by the stubble burning not only worsen our environment but could also aggravate the health conditions of the Covid-19 patients, especially patients with co-morbidity.

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