New Delhi : Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited Punjab today on a one-day trip to interact with farmers, villagers, and stakeholders in Ransih Kalan village, Moga. He congratulated the village for its remarkable achievement of not burning stubble for six consecutive years and for pioneering sustainable stubble management practices.
Speaking to the media, Shri Chouhan highlighted the environmental hazards of stubble burning, which destroys beneficial insects and contributes to severe air pollution. “Punjab has reduced stubble burning incidents by 83 per cent this year—from around 83,000 earlier to nearly 5,000 now,” he noted.
He praised Ransih Kalan for demonstrating a practical alternative: farmers mix stubble into the soil and use direct seeding techniques. This method allows sowing without additional water, saves diesel, enriches soil with potash, reduces weeds, increases soil organic carbon, and cuts down on fertilizer usage. Sarpanch Preet Inderpal Singh Mintu shared that where previously 1.5 bags of DAP and three bags of urea were needed, now only one bag of DAP and two bags of urea suffice.
Shri Chouhan inspected wheat, potato, and mustard fields, observing that the stubble management practices do not affect yield or crop quality. In potato cultivation, stubble provides nutrients like zinc and potash, enhancing size and quality while reducing costs. Mustard crops similarly benefit from reduced water and fertilizer requirements with improved productivity.
He praised Ransih Kalan as a model village for holistic development, citing initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, plastic management, creation of lakes and parks, a library, anti-drug campaigns, and effective underground drainage preventing dengue and malaria.
The Minister encouraged farmers across India to adopt Ransih Kalan’s stubble management model to reduce pollution and enhance soil productivity. He also announced plans for a brainstorming meeting on December 22–23 to develop five-year plans for agricultural transformation under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Shri Chouhan emphasized support for small farmers in accessing machinery through Custom Hiring Centres and promoting mechanization collectively. He highlighted the government’s commitment to the ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission,’ ensuring MSP procurement for pulses like lentil, pigeon pea, black gram, and chickpea.
Concluding his visit, Shri Chouhan said Punjab remains a centre of agricultural knowledge, offering lessons for the entire country. He expressed delight in visiting the state and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting Punjab’s farmers and agricultural development under the Prime Minister’s guidance.