Stubble Burning-Paddy and Smog
Some thoughts just by the way on a Sunday Morning by me as I share this video.
1. We cannot reduce the time period to sow as that is related to the lowering of the water table. Plus as per feedback the farmer has only 15 to 20 days to prepare his fields for the changeover to the next crop. And I am not discussing here doing away or minimising the cultivation of paddy, that is too drastic a prescription as of now.
2. The farmers constraint is the reduced time period post harvest of paddy.
3. The answer obviously lies in the utilisation of mechanisation and technology to remove the Stubble post harvesting by combine harvesters.
4. We need to encourage Farmers to turn entrepreneurs by acquiring the equipment to remove the Stubble or to plough it into the field.
5. The farmer Entreoreneur needs to be commercially oriented and ready to move to where the demand is. For example one Entreoreneur in Punjab moves from South Punjab to Haryana to Rajasthan.
6. We need the entrepreneurs - Farmers to be guided or rather in a collaborative mode with a Model where one group assesses demand and rates and then puts the farmer in touch with the entrepreneur farmer who will process the Stubble.
7. It’s not rocket science as such and if Farmers turn entrepreneurs they will know which combination of machinery would work in a particular area.
8. Paddy Straw can be used as feed but with a combination. That itself will consume a large part in this dairy oriented region but requires cultural reorientation. Just compare the rates of fodder to paddy Straw. Gaushalas can also use it.
9. Tie ups with Bio Mass processors preferably entrepreneurs would be preferable also. They can address supply up to 35 kilometres or so from the plant.
10. Subsidy or incentives have to be transparent and coupled with sensitisation and inputs on being commercial in orientation.
11. The farmer also incurs a financial cost on Stubble Burning inclusive of imputed cost and would prefer alternative arrangements.
12. The farmer and his family face the health hazard too and need guidance and suitable alternative mechanisms.
13. Agriculture machinery manufacturers faced problems in manufacturing suitable equipment and breakdowns were frequent earlier. This impacted demand. Now the quality has certainly improved.
14. Farmers Entrepreneurs have to be mechanical in mindset too as machinery would need to be attended to in the field across remote areas. They have to know their machines.
15. The Government has to move the Extension Machinery to the interface level to induce change.
16. In case straw is to be bailed and stored for use then storage capacity needs to be created. The fear rather apprehensions of farmers as regards production and productivity need to be addressed.
17. A mix of fines, Technology Entrepreneurs Processors and Reorientation coupled with incentives and storage will certainly work.
18. The challenge and opportunities lie in the coordination with varied Government and Non Government Agencies and Farmers. And offering a variety of options including zero tillage. This is very much doable.
Just loud thoughts and put together as they came.
Dinesh K Kapila
Some thoughts just by the way on a Sunday Morning by me as I share this video.
1. We cannot reduce the time period to sow as that is related to the lowering of the water table. Plus as per feedback the farmer has only 15 to 20 days to prepare his fields for the changeover to the next crop. And I am not discussing here doing away or minimising the cultivation of paddy, that is too drastic a prescription as of now.
2. The farmers constraint is the reduced time period post harvest of paddy.
3. The answer obviously lies in the utilisation of mechanisation and technology to remove the Stubble post harvesting by combine harvesters.
4. We need to encourage Farmers to turn entrepreneurs by acquiring the equipment to remove the Stubble or to plough it into the field.
5. The farmer Entreoreneur needs to be commercially oriented and ready to move to where the demand is. For example one Entreoreneur in Punjab moves from South Punjab to Haryana to Rajasthan.
6. We need the entrepreneurs - Farmers to be guided or rather in a collaborative mode with a Model where one group assesses demand and rates and then puts the farmer in touch with the entrepreneur farmer who will process the Stubble.
7. It’s not rocket science as such and if Farmers turn entrepreneurs they will know which combination of machinery would work in a particular area.
8. Paddy Straw can be used as feed but with a combination. That itself will consume a large part in this dairy oriented region but requires cultural reorientation. Just compare the rates of fodder to paddy Straw. Gaushalas can also use it.
9. Tie ups with Bio Mass processors preferably entrepreneurs would be preferable also. They can address supply up to 35 kilometres or so from the plant.
10. Subsidy or incentives have to be transparent and coupled with sensitisation and inputs on being commercial in orientation.
11. The farmer also incurs a financial cost on Stubble Burning inclusive of imputed cost and would prefer alternative arrangements.
12. The farmer and his family face the health hazard too and need guidance and suitable alternative mechanisms.
13. Agriculture machinery manufacturers faced problems in manufacturing suitable equipment and breakdowns were frequent earlier. This impacted demand. Now the quality has certainly improved.
14. Farmers Entrepreneurs have to be mechanical in mindset too as machinery would need to be attended to in the field across remote areas. They have to know their machines.
15. The Government has to move the Extension Machinery to the interface level to induce change.
16. In case straw is to be bailed and stored for use then storage capacity needs to be created. The fear rather apprehensions of farmers as regards production and productivity need to be addressed.
17. A mix of fines, Technology Entrepreneurs Processors and Reorientation coupled with incentives and storage will certainly work.
18. The challenge and opportunities lie in the coordination with varied Government and Non Government Agencies and Farmers. And offering a variety of options including zero tillage. This is very much doable.
Just loud thoughts and put together as they came.
Dinesh K Kapila
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