Team Herald
MARGAO: In order to reduce air pollution and hardships faced by the farmers, the Agriculture Department has introduced for the first time a round baler machine which picks any combined harvested windrow in one go. Baler will offer the perfect solution for managing the paddy crop residue in the State.
According to the officers of State Agriculture Department, this baler can bale paddy straw, which are mostly burned by the farmers leading to major air pollution. A few days back, this round baler machine was introduced to the farmers of Verna, wherein the farming community too expressed satisfaction in order to get rid of leftover straw of paddy.
It must be noted that hundreds of farmers are witnessed engaged in paddy cultivation all across the State and such activities have increased in recent years. However, many times the farmers are seen burning the leftover straw of the paddy after harvesting.
Speaking to the media persons, Prassana Kumar, assistant director of Agriculture Department said that this burning of leftover straw of the paddy by the farmers is one of the causes for air pollution, which later on affects the health of the people.
“We have all types of machinery in the State to help the farmers, right from cultivation till the harvesting. However, the leftover straw of paddy is burned by the farmers, and it is not being used in a proper eco-friendly way. We must also remember that burning the straw in the paddy fields is against the soil conditions,” he stated.
Further, Prassana said, “There is no mechanical management in place to resolve the issue of paddy straw in the State. And hence, the easy method used by the farmers in order to prepare their fields for next crops is to burn the straws.”
“At the time of burning the straw, the soil conditions get destroyed. The small particles of straws of paddy at the time of burning go inside our lungs and it creates health problems, which mostly go unnoticed,” he added.
Prassana said, “This baler machine is eco-friendly and also revenue generating. This will give a revenue generating opportunity to the one who has with them, the tractors, as they can be service providers to other farmers. Ecology will also be saved,” he stated.
The Assistant Director hopes that success will be seen in coming days, when more baler machines will be introduced to the Goan farmers.
“I have personally seen how the farmers are burning the straws in the fields. And hence, I had discussed this issue with the officials of the Agriculture Department. This baler machine will definitely help the farmers in a big way,” said Greg Fernandes, a farmer from Verna.
