Ferozepur farmer sets example with pesticide-free quality crop production
HARISH MONGA
Ferozepur, February 6, 2026: At a time when farmers are striving not only for higher yields but also for superior quality produce, an innovative farmer from Ferozepur district has emerged as a role model. Dr Balwinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Ferozepur, visited the fields of research farmer Virsa Singh of village Bukkan Wala in Ferozepur block to review his sustainable farming practices. He was accompanied by Sawandeep Sharma, Project Director, Agricultural Technology Management Agency - ATMA, and Pradeep Singh, Assistant Technology Manager.
During the visit, farmer Virsa Singh shared that he has been practising Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) since 2018 across all his fields. He further informed the officials that wheat is currently being sown using straw retention techniques, wherein crop residue is managed within the fields instead of being burnt. This method not only improves soil health but also conserves moisture and enhances crop quality.
Remarkably, Virsa Singh stated that for a long time, he has been achieving full crop production without the routine use of pesticides, relying instead on natural balance and recommended agronomic practices. His fields stand as a strong example of how quality production can be achieved alongside environmental conservation.
Appreciating the farmer’s efforts, Dr Balwinder Singh urged farmers across the district to follow such sustainable practices. He appealed to cultivators to avoid indiscriminate use of pesticides and to apply only recommended chemicals, and only when absolutely necessary, to ensure safe, high-quality agricultural produce and long-term soil fertility.