Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh has appealed to farmers across the district not to burn wheat stubble, saying the practice causes serious damage to the environment, and human health.
The DC said burning wheat residue destroyed important nutrients in the soil — including nitrogen, phosphorus and potash — as well as several micronutrients essential for crop growth.
He added that stubble burning released harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which could lead to breathing problems, eye irritation and skin disease among people.
He said the effects of climate change were already being seen in agriculture through unseasonal rains, sudden floods, and drought-like situations caused by rising temperatures. According to experts, changing weather conditions are also leading to new types of pests and crop disease, creating further challenges for farmers. The DC said environmentally friendly farming practices must be adopted to tackle future agricultural challenges.
He urged farmers to act responsibly, and avoid
setting wheat stubble on fire in larger public interest so that pollution could be controlled.
He advised growers to contact Agriculture Department experts to know about scientific methods to manage crop residue.
He added that officials and employees from the Agriculture Department, and other departments, had been deployed across the district to spread awareness among farmers, and prevent incidents of stubble burning.
