Review Meeting on “Crop Residue Management” organized
06th October 2025, Ludhiana
The ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana, organized a Review Meeting on “Crop Residue Management” on October 6, 2025, to evaluate the effectiveness of the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities carried out under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) campaign during 2024–25. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana. The participants included Dr. Gurpreet Singh Makkar, In-charge, Plant Clinic and Senior Extension Scientist (Entomology), PAU, and Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Professor-cum-Head, VAHE, GADVASU. The program was attended by more than 50 participants, including Heads and Scientists from various KVKs across Punjab.
In his address, Dr. Gurpreet Singh Makkar appreciated the exemplary efforts of Punjab’s KVKs for being at the forefront of agricultural innovation in the country. Highlighting major achievements, he emphasized the urgent need to tackle the persistent issue of crop residue burning, especially in the context of flood-affected paddy fields in Punjab, where farmers face additional challenges in managing residues effectively. Dr. Jaswinder Singh called for collective action towards environmental and ecosystem management by integrating CRM technological interventions, economic viability, and entrepreneurship opportunities. He urged all scientists and stakeholders to take proactive measures within their domains to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.
Earlier, Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR–ATARI, Ludhiana, outlined the objectives of the review meeting and provided an overview of the progress made by KVKs under the CRM project. He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive strategy and forward-looking vision to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices in the region, highlighting the significance of multi-stakeholder collaboration for achieving the goals of the Central Sector Scheme.
The meeting facilitated in-depth discussions among participants to refine strategic plans for CRM implementation across KVKs, focusing on enhancing farm-level impact. The deliberations helped define future directions and encouraged the development of innovative, location-specific solutions for effective crop residue management.