Stubble burning – Some Other Issues – Punjab – Points to consider

 Stubble burning – Some Other Issues – Punjab – Points to consider

Dinesh K Kapila. Chief General Manager (Retd) NABARD

 (In an interaction with Chitkara University in Jan 2025). 

The gray area for Punjab lies in its lack of diversity. This has led to support including infrastructure being tailored  to a specific set of crops and mode of production.  The issue of stubble burning gets intrinsically linked to this specific aspect. And it has caused nutrient depletion. 

 

Broadly, this could be examined as addressing the issue – In Situ, Ex Situ, Policy measures,  Management of the measures and policy as a unified cohesive focus and ensuring its effective execution, inclusive of all stakeholders. This will include calibrated diversification.  Diversification is there but requires  deepening and widening, potatoes, kinnow and vegetables have undergone an increase in area and production, but requires infrastructure to back it up. And price support mechanisms.

 Pricing  is a core concern to support diversification, the margins of market intermediaries, well, what Transmission and Distribution losses were earlier to Electricity Companies, same are Margins and price mechanisms within our markets. Pricing has to factor in affordability of consumers too as also nutritional concerns. Price stability too. Example – Cauliflower and Tomato prices. 

 Paddy, the irrigation requirements, the recharge is 19 BCM, the  extraction is 28 BCM. Farmers are aware but need State and Institutional Support plus maybe effective PPP Partnerships. After all paddy requires considerably more irrigation support. Farmers know this. Use of Farm Machinery – Fuel Costs and too focused on a certain set of equipment is another challenge.

 High Burn Districts are still on the long duration paddy crop, though the short term crop is increasing. Medium and Large Farmers are more prone to stubble burning. Plus there is also partial burning and then resort to farm machinery. Myths have to resolved about the impact on wheat crops by in situ measures.

 In situ is viewed as costly as compared to ex situ. However returns are not viewed as commensurate. Knowledge gaps are a reality and practitioners guides are required as also regular workshops.  Farmers who lease land are left out of formal support mechanisms, this is a core area to address. As the contract is informal.

 Lack of a viable market for crop residue is another area to strengthen. Test and obtain feedback on equipment which is both useful in field terms and productive, perhaps weed out other equipment and focus on the more effective equipment. 

 22 Blocks are Safe, 12 Blocks are Semi Critical, 4 Blocks are Critical and 115 Blocks are Over Exploited.

 i.          Quantum of stubble: In Punjab, some data suggests that a total 220 lakh tonne of stubble is produced along with the paddy. The biomass power generating plants in the state consume 50 lakh tonnes of stubble. Of the remaining 170 lakh tonne, 100 lakh tonne goes unmanaged, and majority of the farmers prefer to burn it.

ii.        Reasons for stubble burning: Increased mechanisation and use on combines in harvest leaves a stubble of around 8-10 inch. The time window between harvest of paddy and sowing of wheat is small, hence farmers use burning as a fast and cost effective means to clear their fields.

iii.      Fire incidences: There is a reduction, the peak was 2020-21. However the challenge stays.

iv.       Solutions: There are three main solutions to stubble burning: in-situ treatment of stubble, ex-situ treatment, and changing cropping pattern. The last one is difficult as paddy needs to be replaced by more remunerative crop but it is a solution that can have a more fundamental impact.

v.         In Situ and Ex Situ management: In Situ management promotes incorporating the stubble into soil of the fields. This is expected to reduce nutrient loss. Ex Situ management deals with alternative uses of stubble, viz. for bio-fuel, packaging industry, fodder, etc. Paddy stubble is however not preferred as fodder in Punjab due to higher silica content and availability of other alternatives (viz. green maize during kharif and wheat straw subsequently).

vi.       Paddy as a dominant kharif crop:  Although the State notifies late sowing, there is still time for stubble management. However, burning remains the most preferred method of stubble removal.

vii.     CRM machinery: Total number of CRM farm machines including Happy Seeders and Super Seeders has neared 200000. Incidentally, CRM machinery is required for both in situ and ex situ management. The stock of machines is actually sufficient.

viii.   Machinery on rent: The custom hiring centre (CHC) system, has not achieved the expected rates of adoption. The rental model has inefficiencies viz that of erratic waiting time. Also, it is seen that a significant proportion of farmers in Punjab desire to have their own CRM machines. Fuel costs have the enhanced operational costs of Happy Seeder and Super Seeder, a concern now. The App for usage has to be smooth in operations. 

ix.       New machinery developed by PAU: Smart seeder, a new machinery developed by Punjab Agricultural University has been included under CRM and is already included for financial assistance under sub mission on agricultural mechanisation to the tune of 50%. The advantage of this machine is that it can run on low HP tractors of 45HP as well while other machines need tractors of 50HP and above.

x.         Every Initiative has a shelf life – Be it the institutional or  corporate or government sector, every policy or initiative comes with a shelf life, only the duration of time differs. In Punjab, the Wheat / Paddy rotation has been in parallel t assured pricing support, this is now sought for say Maize or any other alternative. Careful weaning off, calibrated steps in execution, effective infrastructural support and institutional back up, are all to run in tandem.   

xi.    Restore Administrative Efficiency – Rigorous Monitoring and Review mechanisms, appropriate placement of manpower, restoring the elan and spirit of the extension machinery, are all required. Formal Markets need more transparency and efficiency, a suitable competitive element would be an incentive for efficiency.

xii.     Some Govt initiatives in CRM:

a.      Subsidy on CRM machinery: Subsidy is provided to support purchase of CRM machinery. While farmer groups can avail a subsidy of 80% (for 10 machines), individual farmers get 50% subsidy for CRM machinery.

b.     Incentives for using Stubble as Fuel: Punjab permitted certain industries such as sugar mills and pulp and paper mills to use paddy stubble as fuel for boilers with a steam-generating capacity of 25 tonnes per hour (TPH). The government also announced fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to promote the industrial utilisation of paddy stubble.

c.      Initiatives for ex-situ management: Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) has set up biomass power In these plants, 8.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble is used annually to generate power. Bio CNG: Eight projects of Bio CNG are under execution / starting operation in the State. These need around 3-lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually. India’s largest Bio CNG project, has been inaugurated at Lehragaga tehsil in Sangrur district under PPP model. A Bioethanol project of 100 kilolitre is requiring 2 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.

Additional Points

a.      A major institution had with the PAU a five model stubble burning free villages initiative  The reported impact was reduction in stubble burning in the range of 60 to 80% among the selected farmers.

b.     A study has indicated farmers are still not fully aware about proper use of CRM machinery, and that there is a good potential for use of stubble as bio fuel (gas).

c.      The possible replication of in depth initiatives for embedding this consciousness, for minimising stubble burning and encouraging diversification, indicators are it worked well earlier. If sustained.

d.     Crop diversification project – Model Villages: This could enhance diversification if supported with infrastructural support and pricing mechanisms. Specific focused experiments or pilots do indicate it benefits farmers

e.      FPCs and FPOs – In the true sense could work, specially for diversification. And effective Cooperatives.  A one acre or two acre farm is not economically feasible, FPOs / FPCs / Contract Farming are possible pathways. Disguised unemployment is a reality.

f.       For supporting diversification – Unfair trade practices, farmers do not have the ability to negotiate, how do we enforce contracts smoothly. How to provide timely and transparent data on pricing. Possibly allowing more market participants.

g.      International benchmarks – are a reality.  We cannot do away with this. These have to be factored in. and tariff structures. These impact pricing.

h.     Quality Certification – This is a requirement, enables better pricing. Packing and Grading using the AIF, GOI or other such support.  

i.       If markets are to be made more inclusive -  Why not bring in Mediation Mechanisms at Block Level as also ensure the control of monopolies / cartels.

j.       Effective Crop Insurance – And transparent premiums and settlement at smaller units. Not a village as a whole. A setting of a floor price for Biomass could be effective. 

k.       Can we extend direct support to farmers – for minimizing stubble burning and / or diversification, reduce subsidies on machinery or indirect approaches.

l.       A setting of a floor price for Biomass could be effective. 

m.    There is a need to revive village ponds and initiate check dams as also aquifer recharge mechanisms.

n.     Supply Chain Infrastructure is required and it has to be efficient and effective but equally parallel markets so as to reduce predatory pricing. FPCs may transition to negotiating prices too.

o.      Would support by way of a Price Differential Scheme be beneficial. How to minimize the gaming of the same by traders and farmers alike.

We have to build a knowledge based farming community open to new initiatives but balanced against extreme price volatility. We have to ensure farmers remain competitive, though it may require aggregation through the FPC / Coop route.

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