Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that Pusa bio-decomposer (a microbial solution that can reportedly turn crop residue into manure) is cheaper than other alternatives to stubble burning and urged neighbouring States to make this low-cost solution available to their farmers.
He launched the preparations of the Pusa bio-decomposer at Kharkhari Nahar Village in southwest Delhi and said, “This bio-decomposer is cheaper than other alternatives to stubble burning. It costs less than Rs 1,000 per acre. The Delhi Government is bearing its cost in the national Capital. We appeal to all States to make this low-cost solution available to their farmers like Delhi did.”
Incidentally, last year, around 300 farmers in Delhi had got the bio-decomposer sprayed on 1,950 acres of farmland and this year, 844 Delhi farmers will spray this solution on about 42,00 care of land. The Commission for Quality Management also has ordered all States to use the bio-decomposer aiming to deal with stubble burning pollution.
Kejriwal said, “Earlier, farmers would burn the stubble left in their fields after harvesting.
Now the stubble decomposes within 15-20 days of spraying the solution and turns into a fertiliser. Stubble was earlier a liability for us when it had to be burnt, but now, once it decomposes, it turns into an asset. When stubble is burnt, nutrients and good bacteria of the soil also tend to get eradicated. But when it is decomposed using the solution, it enriches the soil.
WAPCOS, an agency of the Central Government, found that among several other nutrients, the carbon and nitrogen content of the soil had significantly increased in the soil.”
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “Stubble plays a big role in the increase in pollution in Delhi during winters. The Delhi Government is working towards controlling the pollution in the State.”
“There is very little stubble inside Delhi. “Most of the stubble is generated in Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring States. That’s why we have requested that until all the states together do not move towards the solution of stubble decomposition, it is difficult to solve the problem. The governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh have been asked by the Commission For Air Quality Management to start spraying bio-decomposer.
I request that like Delhi, if other governments prepare it at their own expense and spray it in the fields of farmers, then more success will be achieved,” he said.
Pusa Institute’s Bio-Decomposer Management Nodal Officer Indramani Mishra said that ten companies have been given licences to make capsules of the bio-decomposer. “Based on the success received last year, United Phosphorus Limited are enthusiastically going to spray the solution in 5 lakh acres of land in Punjab and Haryana. There has been a demand for the bio-decomposer for one lakh acres of farmland from the Haryana Government. Also, a demand for 75 thousand acres of land has come from the Punjab Government. The Uttar Pradesh Government is also excited about its results and is going to use it in 10 lakh acres of farmland. Seeing the success of the campaign launched by the Delhi Government last year, neighbouring States are also going to use the bio-decomposer solution on a large scale.
