Straw reapers banned in Moga

Moga, April 18

The district administration of Moga has imposed a ban on the use of straw reaper machines during the ongoing wheat harvest as it often leads to incidents of fire and air pollution. The wheat straw left in fields after harvesting and making hay (dry fodder) with straw reapers is burnt by farmers to prepare fields for the next crop.

District Magistrate Sandeep Hans and Plant Protection Officer Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar said strict action would be taken against farmers who used straw reapers and burnt the crop residue in fields.

Farmers generally burn the residue as they consider it more convenient and economical than mixing it in the soil using plows. Officials claimed in previous years such fires often damaged trees and standing wheat crop in nearby fields. "The environment gets polluted and soil health gets degraded," said an agro-official.

The plying of combine harvester machines in wheat fields during the night time has also been banned by the district administration. The wheat harvesters cannot be used to harvest the crop after 7 pm and before 9 am. The agro-scientist said the wheat harvested during night had more moisture content.

Meanwhile, DM Sandeep Hans claimed the district administration had made all preparations for the procurement of wheat. He said the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would procure 20 per cent of wheat, Pungrain 23 per cent, Markfed 22 per cent, Punsup 22 per cent and Punjab State Warehouse Corporation 13 per cent from the markets allotted to these agencies. — TNS

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