Experts suggest three methods to deal with stubble burning

NEW DELHI: Environmentalists along with the Punjab Agricultural department on Wednesday presented three effective ways to do away with the stubble burning which caused the severe smog in Delhi this year. These models are likely to be presented to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) next year as it has asked the state governments to submit a plan to control stubble burning.

The experts suggested three methods to deal with the issue. The first method is to leave the chopped straw on the soil surface which is known as mulching. Secondly to incorporate the straw into the soil post harvesting. Third and the most beneficial method for farmers is to collect the straw for selling to biomass-based power plants. For these, the experts suggested various new equipment which can be used.

The government of Punjab and the Punjab Agricultural University have assured to look after these techniques. The experts observed that the most viable technology seems to be what is called Happy Seeder (HS). This is a tractor-mounted machine that basically cuts and lifts the standing stubble, drills the wheat seeds into the bare soil, and deposits the straw over the sown area as a mulch cover.

Another effective tool is Super-Straw Management System (S-SMS), which is an attachment that can be fitted on any combine harvester. The Punjab government is working on all these suggested techniques, the officials said.

"Working on the stubble management issue, more and more farmers are being encouraged to adopt mechanized post-harvesting treatment of the land and we are pleased that various organizations are now contributing to technical solutions. Punjab Government has taken Kallar Majri as a model village for this project but it's important to note that farmers from other locations can also improve productivity and reduce air-pollution by adopting these same practices," said Manmohan Kalia, Joint Director of Department of Agriculture Punjab.

He added that the government was in touch with the scientists to work on the issue of stubble burning.

"We are concerned about the smog which has affected the Capital this year and by using these three methods we hope that the condition will be much better from next year. We are planning a foolproof plan with the scientists and will submit it to the NGT," Kalia said.

He also said that appearing to NGT, the government has assured the green body and the authorities of the Capital that crop burning should be stopped at any cost.