PAU signs MoU with CII to combat stubble burning in Punjab

The collaboration between Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will center on farmer training, field demonstrations, and the large-scale adoption of eco-friendly farming practices. This initiative also aims to enhance public-private partnerships to drive sustainable agricultural development across Punjab

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has taken a major step toward tackling the persistent issue of paddy straw burning by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Gurugram. This strategic partnership aims to promote PAU’s innovative agricultural technique, “Simultaneous Sowing of Wheat While Harvesting Rice,” using the university-developed Surface Seeder Machine. The initiative is designed to provide farmers with a practical, eco-friendly alternative to stubble burning, paving the way for sustainable agriculture in the state.

This innovative technology offers farmers a sustainable and practical alternative to stubble burning by integrating rice harvesting and wheat sowing into a single seamless operation. Using a combine harvester equipped with a specially designed seeding attachment, wheat seeds and basal fertilizer are simultaneously sown directly into the soil during the rice harvest. The remaining paddy straw is evenly distributed across the field, creating a natural mulch layer. This mulch helps conserve soil moisture, suppresses weed growth, enhances soil organic matter, and crucially, eliminates the need to burn crop residue — a key source of air pollution in Punjab.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Gurugram, was formally signed at PAU by Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, and Sunil Kumar Misra, CEO and Principal Advisor of CII. The signing ceremony was attended by senior representatives from both institutions.

Under this strategic agreement, PAU will provide technical expertise, conduct field demonstrations, and facilitate participatory research, while CII will lead outreach efforts, organize awareness campaigns, deliver training programs, and help build farmer capacity.

Calling the MoU a visionary initiative, Dr. Gosal emphasized the importance of uniting academic innovation with industrial outreach to benefit farmers and the broader agricultural ecosystem. PAU Registrar Dr. Rishi Pal Singh reaffirmed the university’s ongoing commitment to farmer empowerment through practical training and on-ground support.