Historical Shifts: From Traditional Practices to Stubble Burning

Evolution of Agricultural Practices

• Decades ago, crop residue, including stubble, served various purposes such as livestock fodder and kitchen fuel.
• However, shifts in agricultural dynamics in the 1990s, driven by factors like subsidized power for groundwater extraction, altered this landscape.

Mechanization and Stubble Accumulation

• The introduction of machines like the Combined Harvester resulted in the accumulation of stubble in fields after harvesting.
• Unlike manual methods that left a minimal residue, these machines left behind 2-3 feet of stubble, necessitating a separate round of harvesting, collection, and disposal.

Rise in Paddy Acreages

• Assured irrigation due to subsidized power in states like Punjab and Haryana led to a substantial increase in paddy acreages.
• This further intensified the demand for labor, prompting the adoption of labor-saving machines and contributing to the surge in stubble-burning incidents.

The Challenge of Stubble Disposal

Inherent Challenges of Paddy Straw

• Paddy straw, with its high silica content, is unsuitable as animal feed and interferes with subsequent crop operations if plowed back into the field.
• Farmers, facing limited alternatives, resort to burning stubble as a quick and convenient solution.

Ineffectiveness of Existing Initiatives

• Despite multiple initiatives, such as decomposers and direct seeding of rice (DSR) techniques, the stubble burning problem remains a persistent challenge, particularly in northwest India and the National Capital Territory Region.

Proposed Solutions

Rethinking Power Subsidies

• Shift to Metered Power Supply: Transition from free or subsidized power to a metered supply to avert groundwater over-exploitation.
• Direct Cash/Benefit Transfer (DBT): Provide farmers with a DBT indexed to inflation in power tariffs, ensuring a gradual transition away from paddy cultivation.

Creating a Market for Stubble

1. Baling Machines: Utilize balers for paddy straw to make it part of the value chain, enabling farmers to sell stubble.
2. Market Development: Establish a robust market for stubble by incentivizing its use in biofuel production, such as BioCNG and ethanol, as well as in brick kilns and thermal plants.

Bio-Enzyme-PUSA:

• Developed by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, the bio-enzyme named PUSA addresses stubble burning.
• Upon spraying, PUSA decomposes stubble within 20-25 days, transforming it into enriching manure and improving soil health.
• Increases organic carbon, reducing fertilizer expenses for subsequent cropping cycles.

Palletisation:

• Paddy straw, when dried and pelletized, can serve as a coal substitute in thermal power plants and industries, curbing coal usage and reducing carbon emissions.

Happy Seeder:

• Instead of burning stubble, the Happy Seeder, a tractor-mounted machine, cuts and lifts rice straw.
• It simultaneously sows wheat into the bare soil, depositing the straw as mulch, promoting sustainable agricultural practices

Supporting Biofuel Production

• Incentives for Balers: Provide incentives for the adoption of baling machines, making them more accessible to farmers.
• Promoting Compressed Biogas: Encourage the production of compressed biogas from straw through anaerobic digestion, ensuring economic and environmental benefits.

Chhattisgarh Innovative Model:

• Chhattisgarh government's initiative involves setting up gauthans, five-acre plots owned by each village.
• Unused stubble or parali is collected through parali daan (people's donations) and transformed into organic fertilizer by mixing cow dung with natural enzymes.

Economic Viability and Market Dynamics

Cost Analysis

• Baling Costs: Estimate the costs associated with baling machines, including cutting, raking, packaging, and storing bales on land.
• On average, baling costs range between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per acre, considering the entire process.
• Market Value: Evaluate the market value of paddy straw, considering the costs involved, and propose a sustainable pricing model.
• A market value of Rs 1,000-1,200 per tonne of bale of parali appears economically feasible, covering costs and leaving a small margin for the farmer

Current Market Trends

• Biofuel Production: Explore the emerging market for paddy straw in biofuel production, including BioCNG and ethanol.
• Some enterprising farmers have sold parali at Rs 180 per quintal this season, indicating an indicative market value.
• Entrepreneurial Initiatives: Highlight instances of farmers selling stubble at market prices, indicating the potential for a viable market.
• Punjab generates about 20 million metric tonnes (MMTs) of stubble, with approximately 85% being burnt in the field.
• Total Cost of Procurement: The total cost of procuring the entire parali burnt in the field in Punjab comes to Rs 2,000 crore, and in Haryana, about Rs 1,000 crore.

Long-Term Vision: Circular Economy in Agriculture

• Supply Chain Support: Advocate for sustained support to the supply chains of paddy straw for at least four to five years.
• Punjab generates about 20 MMTs, and Haryana has about half of this.
• Circular Economy Benefits: Emphasize the potential of converting agricultural waste into wealth, fostering a circular economy in agriculture nationwide.

Regulatory Measures and Enforcement

Legal Framework

• Stubble Burning Laws: Propose stringent laws against stubble burning, once an effective channel for procuring paddy straw is established.
• Strict enforcement of laws against burning any crop straw should be implemented.
• Administrative Support: Emphasize the need for administrative support to enforce these laws effectively.

Health and Environmental Impact

• Health Consequences: Highlight the severe health implications of stubble burning, affecting millions of lives.
• Stubble burning poses significant health risks, contributing to respiratory issues and other ailments.
• Environmental Degradation: Illustrate the environmental damage caused by this practice, underlining the urgency of intervention.
• Stubble burning contributes to air pollution, soil degradation, and overall environmental degradation.

Conclusion:

Addressing the stubble-burning crisis requires a holistic approach encompassing policy shifts, market development, and strict regulatory measures. By rethinking power subsidies, creating a viable market for stubble, and supporting biofuel production, we can not only mitigate the environmental impact but also contribute to the economic well-being of farmers. This comprehensive plan, coupled with legal backing and administrative support, can pave the way for sustainable agriculture and a healthier environment.

Source- Indian Express