NGO Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha (BJGVJ) has cautioned farmers against burning of paddy straw, which is detrimental both to health and fertility of the soil.
NGO members created awareness among farmers of Baranhara and Talwara villages in association with the gram panchayats.
They spread awareness on the subject, "Effect of genetically modified crops and paddy straw burning".
Speaking on the occasion, Arun Mitra, general secretary, BJGVJ, cautioned farmers that the smoke emitted as a result of burning of paddy straw or wheat straw could adversely affect the respiratory system.
Lung diseases and diseases of nose and throat got aggravated, thus incapacitating the person, he added.
Rajinder Pal Singh Aulakh, an agriculture expert, warned the farmers that by burning paddy straw the useful elements in the soil were destroyed.
NGO president Major Sher Singh Aulakh (retd) said they would carry forward the drive by holding such gatherings time to time in different parts of the district.
The information provided would definitely encourage farmers to shun the practice of burning paddy straw, said Satwant Kaur and Amarjeet Kaur, sarpanches sarpanch of Baranhara and Talwara villages respectively.