Faisalabad:The agriculture experts have advised the paddy growers to begin harvesting coarse-grain varieties at the optimum stage of maturity to minimize grain breakage and post-harvest losses while strictly avoiding the burning of crop residues to help curb smog and air pollution.
A spokesman of Agricultural (Extension) Department said that the growers should start harvesting paddy when upper grains on the panicles have fully matured while the lower two to three grains are still green.
At this stage, the moisture content of the grains is generally around 20 to 22 percent, which is considered suitable for harvesting, he added.
He said that after harvesting, the grains should be dried properly until their moisture content is reduced to around 12 to 13 percent.
He said that the growers opting for mechanical harvesting should preferably use a rice harvester, commonly known as Kubota, for this purpose.
Where a rice harvester is not available, the farmers should use machinery that can be properly adjusted according to the requirements of paddy harvesting so that grain breakage could be kept to the minimum during the harvesting operation, he added.
He also urged the farmers to dispose of paddy crop residues strictly in consultation with local Agriculture Department experts and warned them against burning paddy stubble under any circumstances. He said that burning paddy residues not only wasted valuable crop material but also contributed to smoke and smog, adversely affecting air quality and public health.
He advised the growers to adopt recommended harvesting and residue-management practices to protect grain quality, reduce post-harvest losses and contribute to efforts aimed at controlling smog during the current harvesting season.