Every winter, Delhi and its neighbouring areas states grapple with severe air pollution, with stubble burning emerging as a major contributor to the toxic smog that blankets the region. From decomposers that turn crop residue into organic fertilizer to innovative uses like furniture, cardboard, and bio-packaging, farmers have options beyond burning. In this article, Nandakumar Marar, Clean India Journal explores these alternatives, economic benefits and the urgent need to shift from pollution to sustainable progress
From converting crop residue into compost and furniture to developing packaging solutions and particle boards, the emerging innovations are showing that stubble burning does not have to be the default solution. These alternatives can also provide farmers with additional income streams. It is time to shift from burning to building.”
Stubble waste has been a major challenge for farmers, but research is offering solutions to turn this environmental challenge into a valuable opportunity for their income and community health. Rather than burning the stubble to clear fields for sowing, composting it is one of the foremost innovative solutions. Research by both government organizations and private enterprises has introduced additional uses for stubble, including creating building materials through compression in moulds or stacking bales in polythene to make furniture.
The reluctance of farmers to embrace these solutions is puzzling, given the negative environmental impact of burning crop residues. New Delhi and the adjacent National Capital Region (NCR) are often shrouded in smog, which causes severe health problems for both humans and animals during the winter months. State governments in Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, which surround the national capital, have been trying to convince farmers to adopt alternatives to burning, with little success. Surprisingly, the solutions discussed above — outlined in detail below — should encourage farmers to seize the opportunity to transform waste into wealth, ensuring future generations view crop residue as an asset rather than a burden.
The Haryana government has already taken a strong stance against stubble burning, and Uttar Pradesh has reportedly reduced pollution from stubble burning to some extent. Punjab is awaiting to adopt alternative methods and address the ongoing environmental challenges.
The farming community should come together in a movement to implement stubble burning alternatives, presenting proposals for funding from relevant agencies and reaping the rewards. Benefits include improved soil fertility through composting, additional income from turning crop residue into recycled products (such as solid boards and furniture) and reduced environmental damage.
The De-composer Solution
Research has led to the development of a solution called “de-composer,” which breaks down crop residue into a soil enhancer for the next planting season. The process involves using eight microbes combined into capsules, which are then made into a liquid solution. When sprayed over the crop residue, the microbes break down the stubble into organic compost instead of burning it. Four capsules, priced at a nominal amount, create 25lt of solution, which is then applied to the stubble. This process helps degrade the stubble down to its roots, enriching the soil and producing organic manure that can be sold.
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) at Pusa (New Delhi) has already conducted successful trials of this decomposer during the kharif season. In these trials, the decomposing solution effectively converted 90% of the stubble into compost within 20 days. Farmers receive these capsules at a low cost, but they are responsible for arranging labor to spray the solution. The process could be made more efficient with the introduction of machinery or even drones to speed up the application.
Private companies are also stepping up to address this issue. Merino Industries, a manufacturer of laminates, has developed a microbe-based culture called Bajrang Baan, in collaboration with VNIT Nagpur. This culture converts paddy straw into nutrient-dense compost in just 20 days as part of their sustainability project, Nirmal. The manure produced is distributed through CII across various regions. India generates 20 million tonnes of paddy straw annually, and with few disposal options, burning remains a common practice.
Fines and FIRs
The Haryana government took significant action in 2024 by issuing orders that allow FIRs to be registered against farmers who burn crop residue. This move aligns with the directives of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body established in 2021. Violations of CAQM directives can result in a prison sentence of up to five years and/or fines of up to `1 crore. The commission’s jurisdiction is limited to the NCR and adjoining areas. As of November 30, last year, fines exceeding `1.47 crore had been collected from farmers in Haryana and Punjab. Inspections revealed that penalties were levied on 638 farmers in Haryana and 5,525 farmers in Punjab. The fines are calculated based on farm size, ranging from `30,000 for those with more than five acres of land to `5,000 for farms under two acres.
Particle Boards and Packaging Solutions
Craste, a company founded by Shubham and Himansha Singh in Pune, purchases crop waste from farmers to reduce stubble burning and provide farmers with a new income source. The waste is converted into biodegradable pulp sheets, food-grade packaging material, and green particle boards for use in furniture. Shubham Singh, with a background in chemical engineering, sought innovative solutions to tackle stubble burning and started the company with support from a BIRAC fellowship. Their work serves as a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging while generating income for farmers.
At Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Anil Sharma came up with the idea of compressing stubble bales into furniture. Inspired by the rectangular shapes of stubble bales in a field, he created furniture pieces like sofas and tables, offering a low-cost alternative to burning the stubble. This concept has been tested at PAU and could provide a creative, ecofriendly solution for using stubble instead of burning it.
Turning Stubble into Profit
In Mehatpur, Jalandhar, Gurtej Singh has turned paddy stubble into a profitable business by using it to make cardboard. After initially starting a cardboard business in 2007, Singh switched to using paddy straw as a raw material in 2010. With training from the Kisan Vigyan Kendra (KVK), he learned how to use farm waste for cardboard production. Over time, farmers in his area, spanning 300 acres, have become suppliers of stubble for Singh’s business. Singh takes pride in contributing to the reduction of pollution caused by stubble burning while making use of farm waste in a sustainable way.