Jabalpur farmers say no machines to clear paddy straw as Collector tours Panagar fields

Farmers in Jabalpur are struggling because crop residue left in the fields after harvest cannot be cleared. On Thursday, Collector Arun Kumar Vishwakarma reached Panagar and inspected the fields while sitting in a tractor. He spoke to more than a dozen farmers.

Farmers told the Collector that many days had passed since harvest, yet they could not get machines to cut the straw. Without machines, the fields cannot be ploughed and sowing of the next crop is held up. They also said that if the straw was not removed in time because of the shortage of machines, they would be forced to burn it.

Before the inspection, former minister and BJP MLA Ajay Vishnoi had criticised the government. He had raised the issue of FIRs being registered against farmers for burning straw and the shortage of machines. On Thursday the Collector then went to the fields in Panagar. He heard the farmers' problems and looked at the condition of the resources available in the fields. With the farmers, he also checked the moisture in the soil.

After inspecting the fields, the Collector spoke to the operators of baler and seeder machines. With the farmers, he saw how a baler unit cuts and collects crop residue. He also watched the sowing process in the field with a seeder machine.

The Collector assured the farmers that the administration and farmers would work together so that the environment is protected and farming is not affected. He said some farmers had also raised other field-related problems besides the shortage of resources.

Farmer Vivek Patel said the fields of hundreds of farmers had been lying empty for 10 days each after harvest, but the residue could not be cut because machines were not available. The farmers also acknowledged that the number of straw-cutting machines is not enough.

Burning straw pollutes the environment. Modern farm machinery is now being used to avoid this. A baler gathers the stubble, straw and dry fodder scattered in the field after harvest and ties it into solid bundles called bales. The machine runs on a tractor and helps clear the field quickly for sowing the next crop.

Several advantages of baler bundles have been cited. Because the stalks and husk left in the field are collected, there is no need to burn stubble and soil fertility is retained. The bundles can be sold to bio-energy plants, paper mills, brick kilns or as cattle fodder, which can bring farmers additional income. Loose straw takes up more space, while small, compact bundles can be stored in less space and cost less to transport over long distances.