Farmers turn to eco-friendly stubble mgmt methods amid rising farm fires

As stubble burning incidents increase across Haryana, some farmers in Karnal district are setting an example by adopting sustainable methods of crop residue management. Through in situ and ex situ practices, these farmers are not only reducing air pollution but also generating additional income and creating employment.

Using machines such as straw balers, happy seeders, and paddy straw choppers, farmers are turning stubble into biofuels and animal feed.

Sunil Rana, a farmer from Uplana village, explained that he collects stubble from about 20 farmers and sells it to a liquor company, earning Rs 170 per quintal, while the farmers receive Rs 1,000 per acre from the government for not burning stubble.

Jatinder Kumar, another farmer, said he has been bundling stubble for three years and sells it to industrial units at Rs 180-190 per quintal. Somnath, who received a baler machine on subsidy, employs 50 labourers in his stubble management efforts. He highlighted that the demand for biofuel is driving this shift in practice.

Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director of Agriculture, said around 1,640 farmers have received permits for stubble management machinery, and the government will provide subsidies once the verification process is complete.