Rice Growers Urged To Adopt Safe Harvesting
The agriculture experts urged the rice growers to ensure safe use of pesticides, timely harvesting, and proper storage of paddy while strictly avoiding crop-residue burning to protect rice quality, soil fertility, public health, and the environment under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Smog Control Program.
A spokesman for the agriculture (Extension) Department stated that farmers should utilize only recommended and safe pesticides for pest and disease control and refrain from using banned pesticides. He emphasized the need to adhere to the prescribed interval between pesticide application and crop harvesting to maintain Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) within acceptable limits and ensure the safety and marketability of the produce.
He noted that early-sown rice crops were reaching the harvesting stage. He advised farmers to harvest the crop when the uppermost grains on the panicle were fully mature, while the lower two to three grains were filled but slightly green. Maintaining grain moisture at around 20 to 22 percent is ideal, he said, and encouraged the use of rice harvesters (Kubota) for optimal results.
The spokesman warned against harvesting under excessive moisture, which could negatively impact quality. He also cautioned against piling freshly harvested paddy in large heaps, as it increases the risk of aflatoxin contamination, affecting rice quality, price, and market acceptance.
Proper drying of paddy before storage is essential, ensuring a moisture content not exceeding 12 to 13 percent at the time of storage, he advised.
Regarding crop residues, the spokesman stressed that burning rice straw and other crop residues is strictly prohibited under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Smog Control Program. He explained that burning residues not only destroys beneficial soil organisms but also contributes to air pollution and smog, posing risks to human health and increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents.
Stricter legal action is being taken against farmers violating the ban on crop-residue burning, and he encouraged growers to dispose of rice residues using super seeders or other suitable methods, consulting local agricultural experts from the Punjab Agriculture Department.
