It is that time of the year when Punjab is again grappling with the problem of paddy crop residue burning and resulting poor air quality index (AQI). Nevertheless, some progressive farmers in the agricultural state have stood up for the cause of the environment and avoided stubble burning by adopting in-situ management techniques. Hindustan Times has given information about some such farmers, who have not only reversed this trend, but have also been successful in beginning the end of malpractices. Here are their details and the benefits derived from paddy waste management, including improved soil health and reduction in input costs.
Smart Seeder Game Changer for Bathinda Village
For Sukhpal Singh, a 47-year-old progressive farmer from Gobindpura village in Bathinda, in-situ management of paddy waste has proven to be a game changer as it not only improves soil health but also reduces agricultural input costs.
Sukhpal Singh, a graduate, sows Rabi crops of potatoes and wheat after harvesting paddy in his 40-acre farm. An enterprising farmer, he works closely with the state agriculture department to encourage growers to adopt environmentally friendly methods of managing paddy residues.
“When I started farming on my ancestral land two decades ago, I started looking for an alternative to the then prevalent practice of burning crop waste. At that time, there was little equipment and there was a lack of awareness about tailings management. I completely stopped burning organic waste in 2008. I believe in the conservation of ‘mitr keet (friendly insects)’ that protect the crop,” he says.
He sows non-Basmati varieties of PR 131, CR 212 and PR 126 and uses paddy straw for mulching. Mulching involves the use of decaying stubble, bark and leaves to cover the ground, enrich the soil and protect it from temperature changes. “After harvesting the paddy, I cover the field with residue. This technology has increased the yield of Rabi crops,” he says.
Sukhpal Singh uses Smart Seeder, an agricultural machine that manages paddy residue by incorporation and surface mulching. The machine, which offers the benefits of both Happy Seeder and Super Seeder, has been provided by the Agriculture Department.
In 2023, the average yield of paddy from Sukhpal Singh’s farm was 22 quintals per acre, while other farmers in the area could harvest only 14 quintals due to bad weather.
“In addition, mulching maintains soil temperature and promotes plant growth. Against the average use of 180 kg urea per acre, my farm requires 100 kg due to paddy residue management. Similarly, I use 110 kg urea per acre, which is half the amount used by other farmers in paddy fields,” he says.
A large number of farmers of Gobindpura have now learned from Sukhpal for the management of crop residues.
Sharing technology to empower marginal farmers
Six years after switching from cotton to paddy cultivation, 55-year-old Malkit Singh is helping 50 farmers from his arid village Gehri Devi Nagar and four rural areas around Bathinda district to give up the practice of burning crop residue.
Malkit, who taught social sciences in schools in the 90s, is a member of a group of seven resourceful villagers who joined hands to buy farm equipment in 2018.
“We have a chopper, a mulcher, a happy seeder and a zero drill which we use in our fields to manage paddy residue and sow wheat with ease. These implements can be used with 50-horsepower tractors. We ensure that not a single straw is burnt,” he says.
Malkit grows paddy on 16 acres of joint family land. The other two acres are used for growing cotton. Wheat is the only Rabi crop he grows.
“Earlier, cotton was the main kharif crop, but in the last few years, we faced losses and were forced to take up paddy cultivation. The soil of our area is sandy. The residue from mulching helps paddy grow with less water and the need for less urea and pesticides,” he says, pointing towards the sand dunes in the village.
He admits that in-situ paddy residue management is challenging for the marginal farmer. “Farmers with less than five acres of land are not able to purchase these equipment to manage crop wastage. Our group volunteered to share its equipment free of cost with 50 farmers in Gahari Devi Nagar and four surrounding villages to manage paddy straw in about 400 acres,” he says.
Bathinda Chief Agriculture Officer Jagseer Singh says Malkit Singh is a role model in the campaign against stubble burning and he hopes more farmers will follow suit this season.
He keeps a fast of 7 years with Happy Seder
Nazar Singh, 63, of Balipur village in Patiala district, had a change of heart in 2017. A graduate, he has since been managing his 10-acre farm without burning paddy straw. “Air pollution is a concern, and I didn’t like the fact that I was contributing to it by burning stubble. I decided to use in-situ machines seven years ago and haven’t looked back,” he says.
He uses Happy Seeder to combine paddy stalks with soil and sow wheat, saving time and money. “When stubble is burnt, the soil loses vital nutrients. Happy Seeder enables field preparation for wheat sowing immediately after paddy harvest,” he says.
Happy Seeder is a tractor-mounted machine that cuts and lifts paddy straw and sows wheat in one go. This causes the straw to fall back as mulch, which conserves water and inhibits the growth of weeds.
By farming without burning stubble, Nazar Singh has been able to reduce fertilizer use by 50% and harvest better crops. Mixing stubble in the soil not only reduces weeds but also increases the water holding capacity of the soil.
He further said, “I plan to stop using chemical fertilizers in the next few years and urge all farmers to adopt stubble management practices to increase soil fertility and safeguard the environment for future generations ”
Rich experience of sustainable farming
Amarinder Singh, 44, of Khakta Khurd in Patiala district, has been effectively managing paddy straw in his 19-acre farm for six years.
He says that mixing paddy straw back into the soil is like adding ghee to food as it enriches the soil and improves the yield of the next crop. “In-situ management of paddy straw has improved soil fertility and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers. It has strengthened the wheat crop, protected it from strong winds and increased the water-retaining capacity of the soil,” says Amarinder Singh.
By opting for in-situ techniques of mulching and mixing the stubble back into the soil, Happy Seeder has got significant benefits. “Mulching is cost effective and requires minimum machinery. After six years, I can say with confidence that input costs have gone down and yields have gone up,” he says.
He has received recognition from the Patiala District Administration for his commitment towards sustainable farming.
An advocate of rainwater harvesting, he has built a 100 feet wide and 15 feet deep pond on his farm to collect and store rainwater, thereby reducing dependence on groundwater for irrigation.
Doaba farmer leaves it to balers to save it
It has been a decade since Sukhdev Singh Atwal, 54, of Charhake village in Jalandhar, has been getting balers to clear the paddy crop residue in his 35-acre farm after harvesting.
“I simply approach those who make straw bales with the help of big machines. They earn profits by selling bales to nearby sugar mills and power plants and in return, my fields are cleared and ready for ploughing, free of cost,” says Atwal.
When asked why he never thought of making his own bales, he said it would have entailed the cost of buying and running the machine and eventually selling the bales to stakeholders, whereas now he was doing it for free.
Atwal follows a three-crop cycle as after harvesting paddy varieties that mature in 90 days, he sows potatoes before sowing wheat in December. “Removing paddy straw with the help of balers saves a lot of money on diesel and labor for potato sowing. Earlier, I had to plow the fields five times to prepare the land for potato cultivation, but now only two plowings are enough,” he says.
“Seeing my eco-friendly and cost-free model of field clearing, farmers have started contacting baler owners after paddy harvesting,” he says.
On farmers’ reluctance towards in-situ management of paddy straw, Atwal says this is because results start coming after three years of stopping stubble burning.
“Earlier, I used to harvest 17-18 quintals of wheat per acre, but due to improvement in soil nutrition the production is now 23-24 quintals,” he says.
Although he does not charge balers for clearing his fields, he says a farmer can earn up to Rs 4,000 per acre of stubble. We get it because 25-35 quintals of stubble is produced in one acre and biomass plants buy bales of stubble. 130- 150 per quintal.
give up stubble burning and produce produce
Gurdev Singh, a 42-year-old farmer from Bhoewali village in Amritsar district, has experienced better crop yields after adopting eco-friendly methods for managing paddy straw. “In a joint family, my brother and I have 10 acres of land and we take 12 acres on lease. This year, we sowed Basmati varieties on the entire land. Agriculture is our family business. Gurdev said, I started learning it in 1998 when I was a student.
They never chose to burn stubble because of the health risks and damage it caused to the soil and the next crop. “I am using all eco-friendly methods of managing crop straw. Earlier I used to use rotavator (machine). For a few years, I have been using the Happy Seeder to incorporate the stubble back into the soil,” he said.
Gurdev said, “My experience shows that it increases crop yield. “In particular, if the weather gets hotter, our fields have higher yields than fields that burn stubble.”
“The guidance of Tajinder Singh, the outgoing Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Amritsar, has helped me a lot in successfully adopting eco-friendly practices. Additionally, I remained in touch with experts from Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana. I have been participating in workshops, seminars and fairs of the department and the university for a long time,” he said.
Despite being an ordinary farmer, he has become a role model in his village. “With the passage of time, more than 60% of the farmers in my village have started following me and avoiding stubble burning,” Gurdev said.
He buys crop residues from others for his farm
Sukhdev Singh, 63, of Chamyari village in Ajnala block of Amritsar district, a former Punjab agriculture officer, has dedicated his life to practicing eco-friendly methods of organic farming and straw management. He has been discouraging people from burning stubble. He even takes crop residues from other farmers to use as mulch in his fields because, according to him, it prevents others from setting stubble on fire. He is known for growing organic sugarcane crop and processing jaggery in this region.
“I have 13 acres of land. Since 1984 I have never burnt crop residue. I also do not use pesticides and insecticides which are very dangerous to human health. This year I sowed Basmati in two acres. “It is a sin to waste stubble because it is good for the health of the soil.”
Sukhdev said, “I add turmeric to the paddy residue before mixing it with the soil. “This method ensures almost double the crop yield.” According to him, others called him “mad” when he adopted organic and eco-friendly methods in agriculture, but he silenced them after tasting success. The 63-year-old has so far given training in organic farming to hundreds of farmers. He said that the ‘Jaggery’ processed by him is famous and is in great demand.
