Scientist–Farmer Dialogue on Crop Residue Management Organized
Ludhiana, 14 October 2025
ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana, organized a “Scientist–Farmer Interaction on Crop Residue Management” on 14th October 2025. The event was chaired by Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary DARE and DG ICAR, with Dr. Rajbir Singh, DDG (Agricultural Extension), and Dr. S.N. Jha, DDG (Agricultural Engineering) as co-chairs.
Dr. Jat emphasized the urgency of achieving zero crop residue burning, calling for awareness against misleading narratives and stricter enforcement of mandatory attachments on harvesters. He also suggested a review of subsidies on machines that inadvertently promote burning and appreciated state efforts in law enforcement. He appreciated the collective efforts and innovative initiatives of farmers, emphasizing that group action and community-driven approaches are pivotal to achieving sustainable crop residue management.
Dr. Rajbir Singh highlighted the underutilization of subsidized CRM machinery and stressed on monitoring subsidy implementation to curb malpractices. He reaffirmed KVKs’ pivotal role in achieving “Mission Zero Burning.”
Earlier, Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR-ATARI Ludhiana, presented an overview of recent activities and efficiency initiatives across Zone-I KVKs.
Progressive farmers shared field experiences and urged for full subsidy support for smallholders to accelerate the adoption of residue management technologies.