Straw Management Campaign in Punjab, Haryana to combat crop-residue burning by New Holland Agriculture

New Holland Agriculture, one of the leading agriculture equipment brands, has re-launched its Straw Management campaign in the Kallar Majri village in Patiala district of Punjab. The campaign was launched at an event in the village, in presence of officials of Department of Agriculture of Punjab, senior official from New Holland Agriculture and farmers from Kallar Majri and nearby villages. 

The project was originally initiated by the Department of Agriculture (DOA) a few years ago to encourage farmers to use environment friendly techniques to manage crop residue instead of burning in on the fields. Last year, New Holland Agriculture joined the project under its CSR program by providing its machinery for straw management, together with all necessary training and technical support to carry out this initiative.  

New Holland Agriculture has also collaborated with the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of Haryana, to prevent the age-old practice of on-field burning of crop residue and to create awareness about the benefits of responsible straw management  

In Haryana the project was launched in Pardhana and Dangra village in Panipat and Fatehabad dist in the presence of the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Government of Haryana officials, officials from the Department of Agriculture, senior officials from New Holland Agriculture, Dealers of New Holland Agriculture and farmers from the nearby villages. 

Under this project, New Holland Agriculture has offered its machinery including Tractor, Baler, Mulcher, Rake, Forklift to the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Government of Haryana, which will use these machines to encourage farmers in Dangra and nearby villages to adopt eco-friendly and profitable methods for straw management instead of burning it. Besides providing its straw management solutions, New Holland Agriculture will also provide all necessary training and technical support to carry out this project. 

India generates some 620 million tonnes of crop residue annually, which has significant nutrient potential. However, most of it in burnt on the fields taking air pollution to dangerously high levels. Crop-residue burning also results in haze, leading to the outbreak of breathing ailments, particularly in northern India. The on-farm burning of crop residues has intensified in recent years as low cost and easily adaptable technologies for its handling and management are unavailable, and the window between harvesting one crop and sowing the next is extremely short. 

New Holland Agriculture revolutionized hay & straw collection in 1940 at a global level, with the launch of world's first automatic baler. In India, New Holland Agriculture is the market leader in crop residue management with its advanced solutions. It is also industry leader in biomass collection for power generation by paddy straw and other crop-residues and cogeneration from cane trash in sugar mills. In just one paddy season, each New Holland BC5060 square baler can help produce enough electricity for around 950 rural homes for one year.  

New Holland Agriculture aims at helping farmers, contractors and agribusinesses around the world to increase their productivity with more efficient use of precious resources in all aspects of crop production and harvesting 

Company has also established a dedicated customer helpline with toll-free number 1800 419 0124 to support the farmer fraternity, to answer their queries and extend the support required round the clock. The helpline is available in 8 regional languages including Hindi & English.