Punjab has 75 lakh acres of land under paddy cultivation. Every October after the harvest, these fields are left with crop residue, also known as stubble or straw, which farmers usually burn to prepare their fields for the wheat crop. The smoke ends up choking. But now firms are not only turning crop waste into money but also saving lungs in the process.
Farm2Energy Pvt. Ltd., a three year old business based in Ludhiana’s Bija village, is run by 2 farmer brothers. Its balers and tractors scoop up the stubble, roll it into bales and sell it to neighboring sugar, cement and oil factories and power plants which burn these in a controlled environment to fire boilers.
At a Bio-lutions factory in Bengaluru, eight machines convert three tonnes of paddy straw from Punjab into pulp everyday. The pulp is used to manufacture sustainable tableware and packaging material.
Likewise, with multiple plants, they will hopefully reduce crop residue burning as well as the use of single plastic. The company produces plates, bowls, trays to pack vegetables in super markets and kidney trays used in hospitals.
In Delhi also, some engineers and scientists have floated a company to tackle the issue. Operating from IIT campus, Kriya Labs running a pilot unit which breaks down the agricultural residue to pulp, which can be used to make tableware.
If these companies do succeed commercially, it will mean relief for residents who have to deal with acute respiratory disorders due to air pollution, as well as farmers who want a escape from crop residues.
Matter Referenced: Times of India, Ahmedabad, Monday, 11th March, 2019.
By: Dr. Bhawana Asnani.
Happy to see Reviews, Additions, Suggestions and Comments, further.
It’s really a very good initiative. …..If succeed can help a lot to farmers and the whole society