Barnala: Deputy Commissioner Tej Partap Singh Phoolka held a meeting with the officials of the Agriculture Department and progressive farmers here today to motivate the farmers and make necessary arrangements to prevent the sudden onset of fire in the wheat crop and not to burn the crop residues. On this occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said that the major rabi crop of wheat has already ripened and the government procurement is also starting from 10th April. He said that full cooperation of the district administration and departments, as well as the cooperation of farmers, is expected to save the ripe crop from fire. He said that to protect the mature wheat crop, residues should not be set on fire after harvesting, as it would damage the mature crop in nearby fields and pollute the environment. 

On this occasion, he took suggestions from the progressive farmers so that the mature crop of the farmers would not be harmed. 

He said that considering the rabi season, the concerned departments have been directed to make solid arrangements. On this occasion, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Charanjit Singh Kainth appealed to the farmers to sort out the wheat stubble in the fields instead of setting it on fire so that it would not only pollute the environment but also increase the fertility of the land. Urged the farmers to increase the area under direct sowing of paddy. Agriculture Officer Mehal Kalan, Lakhveer Singh, ADO Barnala Dr. Gurcharan Singh, Dr. Gurmeet Singh, Dr. Ammitpal Singh, Safal Kisan Harwinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh Kahneke also shared the views during the occasion.