Incentivise farmers to combat farm fires, say entrepreneurs
As law enforcement agencies crackdown on farmers involved in burning paddy stubble, following the Supreme Court’s directive, progressive farmers and entrepreneurs are calling for an alternative approach.
They said incentivising farmers to manage straw would not only curb air pollution but also unlock the state’s potential for a biofuel revolution.
Pavanpreet Singh, chief, Biomass Association of Punjab, is leading the charge. With one biomass power plant in Muktsar generating 15 MW and two more in Jaito Mandi and Ferozepur producing 44 MW collectively, Pavanpreet is a firm believer in the untapped potential of paddy residue.
He’s also setting up six biofuel plants in Rajasthan, where the government’s interest in clean energy is much stronger.
“The government claims power generated from paddy residue costs more. But if you factor in the expense of controlling farm fires and the health costs they impose, this method is far more economical,” said Pavanpreet. He advocates encouraging industries to use paddy straw, emphasising that biomass power plants could be established in every district to address the issue comprehensively. “We have to produce 250 MW, which is sufficient enough to process paddy residue generated throughout the state,”
said Pavanpreet.
Officials of the Pollution Control Board said around 7 million tonnes of paddy residue had been collected through ex-situ management this year.
Punjab produces around 185 lakh tonnes of paddy straw annually, with only 30 per cent managed through eco-friendly methods. The rest is burned, contributing to severe air pollution.
Entrepreneurs like Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal, founder of Farm2Energy startup, see this as a missed opportunity. “Punjab is on the cusp of a biofuel revolution after the Green Revolution, but the lack of an effective government policy is a major roadblock,” said Dhaliwal, who converts paddy stubble into bio-coal. He urged the government to come up with paddy straw policy, which include guidelines on residue collection, pricing and quality checks, fair compensation for farmers and streamlining the supply chain.
Lead by example
In contrast to widespread stubble burning, the residents of Dawala village in Samrala block of Ludhiana are shining examples of community-driven initiatives. For the past five years, Dawala has reported zero stubble burning incidents.
Through relentless efforts and use of social media, farmer Sukhjeet Singh motivated his community to embrace residue management practices.
“Our village’s 400 acres of land hasn’t been set on fire for years. Initially, we faced backlash. Gradually, other farmers joined us,” he said.
Their success inspired neighbouring districts, proving that collective action can yield results.
Harminder Singh Sidhu, a progressive farmer and director of the Gadri Baba Dulla Singh Giani Nihal Singh Foundation in Raikot, has taken proactive steps by establishing an equipment bank to lease farm machinery for harvesting and crop sowing even in Bhadson of Patiala.
Nearly 6,000 farmers from Ludhiana, Barnala and Patiala are part of the initiative. Majority of farmers are following in-situ practice on 7,759 acres and not setting their fields on fire.
Sidhu said over the years it had been observed that the soil fertility had increased due to the incorporation of paddy straw. He stressed the importance of the government appreciating and engaging with farmers who were actively working to eliminate the practice of burning paddy residue.
