KARNAL: Progressive farmers in Haryana and neighbouring Punjab are taking to zero-tillage sowing of wheat for resource conservation and improving soil health and productivity. Nearly 40 per cent of the farmers in the Karnal-Kurukshetra belt are using the zero-tillage machine to sow seeds without ploughing the field. Most farmers have reported a saving of about Rs. 1,000-1,500 an acre in terms of time, diesel, herbicide use and water.

Several others are tentative about using this technology, as there is not much difference in yield. Some farmers, talking to visiting pressmen from New Delhi, even reported a drop in yield an acre. For six years, Saheb Singh of Haryana, who owns about 100 acres, has been sowing his field with zero-tillage machines. He reports a saving of Rs. 1,000-1,200 an acre.

The government is subsidising the machine, which costs more than Rs. 20,000, though it is now being manufactured indigenously. Still, farmers find it unaffordable. Most of them custom-hire the machine at Rs. 250 an acre.

According to R.K. Malik, Director of Extension and Research, Department of Agriculture, of the total cost of Rs. 18,000, Rs. 3, 200 has been given as subsidy for the indigenous machine. Zero-tillage prevents burning of residue on the field after harvest. Efforts are on for improvising the machine for rice cultivation without raising nurseries.

Samar Singh, a scientist with the Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal, said the State Government collaborated with non-governmental organisations, State Departments and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to promote zero tilling in the Indo-Gangetic region, where overdrawal of groundwater and the rice-wheat cropping pattern resulted in loss of productivity and a fall in the water table. "We want to revive the soil and change the ecology for long-term sustainability."

Forty per cent of the farmers in Haryana and more than 60 per cent in Punjab reportedly switched to zero-tillage for inter-cropping and diversification. In this method, seeds and fertilizer are put into narrow slits created with knife-type furrow openers that plough the land as they sow on the residue.

Leaving the residue from the previous crop helps in regenerating soil and prevents lodging of plants under adverse weather conditions.

The technology is being used for sowing chickpea on raised beds, wheat on wide beds, and inter-cropping of chickpea with sugarcane, wheat with sugarcane, wheat with lentil, and maize with pea.

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