Ludhiana, September 12 Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), in association with the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), launched an awareness campaign on “paddy straw management”. The NSS volunteers of five Universities – Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Panjab University, Chandigarh; Punjabi University, Patiala; Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar; and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, are participating in the campaign. JS Mahal, director of extension education, PAU, voiced concern over depletion of natural resources and rising environmental pollution across India. Although air pollution may be due to various reasons, but stubble burning has been considered to be the major reason for it, he observed. Mahal hailed the participation of students in creating awareness regarding harmful effects of stubble burning and suggesting technologies to manage it. “Punjab Agricultural University has been conducting research on the development of straw management machinery for the last 20 years. The NSS volunteers must make vigorous efforts to apprise farmers of straw management technologies,” he said. Harish Kumar Verma, director of extension education, GADVASU, spoke on how in the Total Mixed Ration (TMR) technique, paddy straw could be used as fodder and bedding material for animals. Charanjit Singh, deputy director, PPCB, threw light on the activities carried out by the PPCB last year. He lauded the participation of NSS volunteers in this mass campaign. During a technical session, PAU experts provided guidance to students on the management of paddy straw. Arshdeep Singh, SS Sooch, Kanwaljit Singh Suri, Amarjit Singh, RS Gill, SS Minhas and Neena Singla, all experts of PAU, imparted knowledge on farm machinery, ex-situ management of straw, insect-pest management in wheat sown with Happy Seeder, diseases management, fertiliser use, wheat sowing and rodent management, respectively.

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