Shivraj Singh Chouhan hails Punjab’s stubble management success, presents Moga village as national model

Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday visited Ransih Kalan village in Punjab’s Moga district, where he met farmers and stakeholders and praised the community for not burning stubble for six consecutive years. Calling the village “a school of knowledge and a centre of inspiration,” he said its successful stubble management practices should be adopted nationwide.

Chouhan highlighted that stubble burning incidents in Punjab have dropped sharply—by nearly 83 per cent this year—from about 83,000 to roughly 5,000. He said the state’s progress had “lifted the worries of the entire country” and expressed confidence that Ransih Kalan’s model would influence farming practices across India.

During his visit, the Agriculture Minister inspected fields and interacted with villagers who mix stubble back into the soil using machines such as the Happy Seeder. He said this method improves soil health, reduces the need for fertilisers, cuts water usage, and offers cost savings.

According to Preet Inderpal Singh Mintu, the village sarpanch, fertiliser consumption in the village has fallen significantly: DAP usage has reduced from one and a half bags to one, and urea from three bags to two per acre. Crop yields, Chouhan said, remain consistent at around 20–22 quintals per acre.

Farmers also informed the Minister that incorporating stubble into the soil has improved potato and mustard crop quality while reducing the need for additional nutrients like potash and zinc. Chouhan said these gains highlighted how stubble, once seen as a burden, has become an asset.

He also lauded the village for progress in water conservation, plastic waste management, rainwater harvesting, and its anti-drug campaign. With underground drainage and improved sanitation, Ransih Kalan has avoided diseases such as dengue and malaria. The Minister praised the sarpanch for leading these initiatives.

Chouhan said he plans to hold a two-day brainstorming session with farmers on December 22–23 to draft five-year agricultural plans under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also directed Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to ensure that Custom Hiring Centres function as full-fledged mechanisation hubs so that small farmers can access modern machines on rent.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to MSP procurement, Chouhan said wheat and paddy would continue to be purchased at MSP, and procurement of pulses—including lentil, pigeon pea, black gram and chickpea—would also be ensured. Under the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission, the government will support dal mill infrastructure in pulse-growing regions.

Calling Punjab a “centre of knowledge” for Indian agriculture, Chouhan said he felt inspired by the state’s innovations and pledged that the Union government would make every possible effort to support Punjab’s development.