Punjab has been facing the scourge of burning of paddy straw for more than two decades now. In spite of a ban issued by the government in this regard, farmers continue to set afire the paddy residue in the fields, in the absence of any viable alternative. As a result, October onwards there is a haze over the countryside since this residue, being moisture and silica rich, keeps burning for days together. This residue cannot be plouged back either. Since it is rich in silica, decomposition takes a long time.

However, the introduction of hi-tech farming equipment has given the farmers an alternative to earn from the residue. Bio-mass power projects in the state have started using paddy straw as an input for power production, and are paying farmers for supplying the raw material.

There are seven million acres of land under paddy cultivation in Punjab. An acre of land yields in 25-30 quintals of crop residue. Thus, the aggregate crop residue comes to approximately 175 million quintals, of which more than 90 per cent paddy straw is burnt. According to T P S Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), “Use of paddy straw to produce electricity at bio-mass power projects will be a win-win situation for the farmers, the state and the power plants.”

The 8 MW bio-mass power plant of Dee Development Engineering Private Ltd near Abohar in Ferozepur district, and its sister-concern, the 7.5 MW Malwa Power Private Ltd in Muktsar district, started using paddy straw about two weeks ago, as one of the inputs. Both units supply power to Punjab State Electricity Board.

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