Uttar Pradeshs New Initiative Turns Crop Residue into Economic Opportunity for Farmers

Lucknow, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : The Uttar Pradesh government is actively working to transform crop residue management into an economic opportunity for farmers. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasizes the scientific and commercial utilization of agricultural waste instead of burning it. This initiative links crop residue to biogas production, providing farmers with additional income, enriching soil with organic fertilizers, and reducing environmental pollution.

Currently, there are 40 biogas plants operational in the state, with plans to establish 78 more in the near future. Yogesh, a farmer from Karamatkheda village in the Barabanki district, exemplifies this change. He grows wheat, rice, and potatoes, and previously struggled with the leftover straw after harvest. The fear of fines for burning it and delays in planting the next crop added to his challenges. Now, the straw is promptly removed, allowing him to prepare for the next planting season on time.

Another farmer, Balram from Tikra village, notes that transporting straw to the biogas plant has saved him disposal costs. Previously, he spent around 2,500 to 3,000 rupees per acre to clear straw, often resorting to burning it due to time constraints. This practice not only harmed the environment but also affected soil health and beneficial microorganisms. With the new system, straw is converted into biogas, and the residual organic matter is used as fertilizer.

The initiative, developed under the guidance of the agriculture department and supported by the Gates Foundation’s Technical Support Unit (TSU), aims to create a timely collection, safe transport, and utilization of straw in biogas plants. This approach alleviates the straw disposal problem and promotes energy production, combating air pollution caused by burning.

Umesh Kumar Sah, Deputy Agriculture Director in Barabanki, reports that compressed biogas (CBG) plants have been established along Deva Road and Haidergarh. These facilities are advancing efforts in the Harakh, Haidergarh, Fatehpur, and Ramnagar blocks, utilizing collected straw for biogas production. The timely collection of straw from farmers’ fields is ensuring that the resulting organic matter is available as fertilizer.

The program is generating employment opportunities in straw collection, bundling, transportation, and processing. Local residents are finding work in these areas, with about 10 to 12 individuals employed in straw collection and nearly 2,000 involved in the processing plants.

The agriculture department also provides financial assistance for farmer producer organizations (FPOs) and individual beneficiaries to purchase crop residue management machines. Partnerships are being formed with super aggregators to ensure machine availability aligns with straw demand. Training is provided on machine operation, straw collection, and quality maintenance.

These organizations assist farmers in field mapping and planning collection based on harvest schedules. Machines like slasher, raker, and baler are utilized for cutting straw, which is then transported to collection centers and delivered to biogas plants.

At the CBG plant on Deva Road, approximately 150 tons of straw are processed daily, producing between 15,000 and 19,000 kilograms of biogas. The plant primarily uses rice and corn straw, which are less suitable as animal fodder due to high silica content. This initiative offers an alternative use for these residues, enhancing sustainability in agriculture and energy production.