Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) visited Punjab’s Ludhiana district, where he interacted with farmers at a Kisan Chaupal in Nurpur Bet village, reviewed live demonstrations of modern agricultural machinery, and inspected a beekeeping centre aimed at promoting rural livelihoods.
During his visit to Nurpur Bet, Chouhan observed the operation of a Super Straw Management System (SSMS)-fitted combine harvester for paddy harvesting and the Happy Smart Seeder machine used for wheat sowing. Praising the local farming community, he lauded Nurpur Bet as a model village for completely avoiding stubble burning since 2017 and for embracing eco-friendly residue management practices.
Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister said that advanced farm machines like the Happy Smart Seeder not only save time, labour, and cost but also improve soil health by covering crop residue, compacting the soil, and ensuring efficient seed placement.
“By adopting these sustainable methods, farmers can naturally enhance soil fertility. Within two years, nitrogen content in the soil will rise, reducing the need for urea, while yields can increase by up to two quintals per acre,” Chouhan explained. He urged farmers across Punjab to follow Nurpur Bet’s example and adopt modern, environment-friendly farming technologies instead of burning crop residue.
Later, Chouhan visited the ‘Samanyu Honey’ Beekeeping Centre in Doraha, where he interacted with local beekeepers and reviewed innovative practices in apiculture.
He discussed various government schemes supporting honey production and rural entrepreneurship and assured farmers of continued assistance to expand income-generating opportunities through sustainable and climate-resilient practices.
