No takers in state for animal feed made from stubble: Plant owner

The owner of two stubble processing-cum-animal feed plants in Muktsar district claims that he helps the state government in managing the paddy residue every year, but hardly getting any support in return in creating a demand for animal feed in the state. Due to this, he has to ultimately send the animal feed prepared at the plants to Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Govt gave subsidy, but no support later

I have spent nearly Rs 2.5 crore on the machinery, which includes balers, racks, tractors, pressing machines, shredding machine, etc. The Centre and the state government have given subsidies on the machines, but did not provide any support later.

Yadwinder Singh Gill, owner of stubble processing-cum-animal feed plant

Yadwinder Singh Gill, who, along with his friends, had set up a paddy stubble processing-cum-animal feed plant at Gurusar village here in 2019, said, “I have spent nearly Rs 2.5 crore on the machinery, which includes balers, racks, tractors, pressing machines, shredding machine, etc. The Centre and the state government have given subsidies on the machines, but did not provide any support later. There is no demand for animal feed prepared from the stubble in our state. As a result, we have to send the feed to Gujarat and Rajasthan. If the government asks the management of cow shelters to use our feed, it will not just help us but also attract more investors to set up such plants.”

He added, “No one easily agrees to give us land on lease for storage purposes. Farmers apprehend that if we will store stubble on their land, it will not get irrigated for a long time and reduce the soil fertility. However, the fact is that the soil will keep getting natural water in the form of rain. Due to such reasons, no one is coming forward to set up this plant. We have two plants in the district, one at Gurusar and the other at Husnar village.”

Bales of stubble are brought to these plants. The stubble is then shredded and compressed bales are prepared from it. The final product is used as animal feed, which is sold for Rs 340 per quintal.

Gurnam Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The issues of the stubble processing plant owners were discussed in a meeting with the DC. It was proposed that cow shelters can be asked to buy animal feed from these plants.”