Now, Asha workers to sensitise Punjab farmers on stubble burning

A training session was organised for Asha workers, who will in turn visit farmers and educate them about using stubble as a natural fertiliser for fields

The Punjab health department in collaboration with the district air pollution action group on Monday organised a session to train Asha workers on raising awareness about the ill effects of stubble burning.

The Asha workers during the training session held at the community health centre, Sahnewal, in Ludhiana. (HT Photo)

The session, organised by the assistant civil surgeon Dr Vivek Kataria and senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Poonam Goyal, held at the community health centre, Sahnewal, aimed at training the Asha workers to educate farmer about the importance of stubble as a natural fertiliser for their fields.

During the training sessions, Asha workers were provided with flip charts and other instructional materials to assist them in their efforts to spread awareness among farmers.

SMO Goyal, addressing the issue, expressed deep concern over the health problems caused by the pollution from straw burning. The smoke generated during stubble burning cause breathing issues. Furthermore, it leads to eye irritation and adversely affects vision.

Ruchika Verma, the district associate of air pollution action group, highlighted the long-term consequences of stubble burning.

She pointed out that this practice not only depletes the fertility of land but also leads to the destruction of surrounding trees along with the habitat of birds. Verma stressed that such actions have far-reaching consequences for the environment.

“Moreover, the burning of stubble contributes to the depletion of essential elements like sulfur, which is a useful natural fertiliser. Experts argue that ploughing stubble back into the fields enhances wheat yields and they also encourage the use of modern farming equipment such as seeders. To further discourage stubble burning, various departments are organising village-to-village camps.” she added.

District mass media officer Parminder Singh and deputy mass media officer Rajinder Singh urged farmers to support the state government’s campaign to curb stubble

burning. They highlighted the dangers posed by setting stubble on fire in fields, including the potential for road accidents caused by the poor visibility due to smoke.