Alternatives for paddy stubble utilisation 

Alternatives for paddy stubble utilisation 

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Agriculture-related issues; Pollution and its mitigation

In news

• The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) in association with the Government of Punjab is creating alternatives for paddy stubble utilisation.

Alternatives for paddy stubble utilisation

• Biomass power plants: In these plants, 8.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble is used annually to generate power 
• Producing Bio CNG: These will need around 3-lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.
• Bioethanol Project: This will require 2 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.

Advantages of these Projects

• After commissioning of all these projects, Punjab will be able to utilise 1.5 million tonnes (7% of the total) paddy stubble.
• Farmers can benefit hugely if they can sell paddy stubble to the industry instead of burning it.
• It will reduce the pollution caused by stubble burning.
• The fertility of the soil will also be preserved.
• The youth can start such projects under the ‘start-up’ concept, which will create entrepreneurship among them.
• Educated unemployed youth in rural Punjab can get big job opportunities.

Limitations 

• Current usage of stubble in these plants is very small compared to the generation of stubble. 

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