Chandigarh, December 5:
A two-day workshop focused on advancing sustainable agricultural practices in Punjab began on December 4 in Chandigarh. The event, part of the PRANA (Promoting Regenerative and No-Burn Agriculture) initiative, brought together over 80 experts from policy, science, and practice domains. Key attendees included Ajit Balaji Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Punjab; Professor Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board; and Shoikat Roy, Member of the Punjab Development Commission.
Organized by Nature Conservancy India Solutions (NCIS), the workshop, titled “Transitioning Towards Regenerative Foodscapes in Northwest India,” focused on addressing Punjab’s agricultural challenges and identifying innovative solutions.
Ajit Balaji Joshi highlighted the state’s efforts toward increasing agroforestry and enhancing farmer incomes through crop diversification and water conservation. “PRANA’s work in Punjab connects to the concept of pran, which relates to oxygen. We are keen to increase agroforestry and green cover in Punjab, and it would be great to see such initiatives scale up,” he stated. He noted a significant reduction in crop residue burning, down by more than 70% from the previous year, and called for innovative methods like integrating carbon, water, and green credits into farmer income models.
Professor Adarsh Pal Vig shared encouraging updates on crop residue management. “Ex-situ management of crop residue has doubled in Punjab since last year, and the increase in industrial boilers (to 44 operational boilers with an additional 31 boilers being installed) has significantly increased ex-situ management. Yet, in-situ is the most natural way of managing crop residue, and I call those farmers who have already been practising regenerative agriculture ‘Nanak de Heere,’” he remarked.
Dr. Anjali Acharya, Managing Director of NCIS, emphasized the need for collaboration to ensure economic and environmental sustainability for Punjab’s farmers. “PRANA has been focused very much on crop residue management, but we are expanding into a regenerative foodscapes approach as we believe this is critically important,” she said. Dr. Acharya outlined key priorities for the initiative, including innovation, institutional support, partnerships, and financing to enable a broad transition to sustainable food systems.
Two policy briefs were launched during the event, addressing crop residue management and the Energy-Water-Food Nexus. These documents provide actionable recommendations for sustainable agricultural practices and improving resource management in Punjab.
Shoikat Roy, a member of the Punjab Development Commission, discussed integrated solutions to Punjab’s challenges of paddy overproduction, stubble burning, and groundwater depletion. He proposed decentralised solarisation and the use of energy-efficient pumps as ways to conserve water, reduce energy consumption, and improve farmer incomes.
The workshop also explored water-saving agricultural techniques such as Alternative Wetting and Drying (AWD), which could reduce water usage and methane emissions. Discussions further emphasized the importance of private-sector involvement and innovative financing tools, like carbon credits, to encourage regenerative agricultural practices.
About The Author
