14 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : A progressive farmer in Kapurthala’s Sultanpur Lodhi has adopted an alternative approach to paddy cultivation by replacing urea with dairy slurry on a significant portion of his fields.
Sukhjinder Singh, a farmer from Mahabalipur village, cultivates around 12 acres and has been using slurry generated from his own dairy farm as a farm input. He says the results from this year’s paddy crop have encouraged him to continue the practice.
Urea Replaced on Five Acres
Singh cultivated the PR 126 paddy variety on eight acres this season. Of these, he avoided urea on five acres and used dairy slurry instead.
According to Singh, the crop grown without urea has been performing better than the portion where conventional fertiliser was used. He said the results had encouraged him to continue experimenting with the practice.
Dairy Farming Supports the Model
Singh also operates a dairy farm with around 50 cattle, giving him a ready source of slurry.
His farming model links livestock and crop cultivation, allowing waste generated by the dairy operation to be reused in the fields rather than treated only as waste.
The farmer also operates a gobar gas plant, which generates energy for the electricity requirements of his home and farm.
Agriculture Department Provided Guidance
Agriculture Development Officer Jaspal Singh said the farmer was initially hesitant about growing the crop without conventional fertiliser inputs.
However, after observing the crop’s performance, Singh became satisfied with the results. The farmer remained in contact with the Agriculture Department during the process and received guidance on the farming practices.
No Stubble Burning Since 2014
Sukhjinder Singh’s approach to farming extends beyond replacing urea.
He has reportedly avoided paddy stubble burning since 2014, making crop-residue management another important part of his farming practices.
His farm also includes dragon fruit cultivation, adding diversification to his agricultural activities.
Focus on Recycling Farm Resources
The farmer’s experience highlights a model in which different agricultural activities support one another.
Cattle slurry is used as a farm input, the dairy operation supplies raw material for the biogas plant, and the resulting energy helps meet household and farm electricity needs.
Agriculture officials have described this integrated approach as an example of using available resources productively while reducing dependence on external inputs.
A Possible Alternative to Conventional Inputs
The experience also highlights growing interest among farmers in sustainable agricultural practices.
While one farmer’s results cannot by themselves establish that dairy slurry can universally replace urea, the experiment demonstrates how locally available organic resources can be incorporated into crop management.
The farmer’s continued communication with agriculture officials is important as such practices are evaluated under field conditions.
Integrated Farming Gains Attention
Combining dairy farming with crop cultivation can offer farmers multiple potential benefits, including better utilisation of farm waste and reduced dependence on purchased inputs.
Singh’s experience in Sultanpur Lodhi provides a local example of how livestock, energy generation and crop production can be integrated within a single farming system.