With mounting cost of paddy stubble management and concerns around environmental impacts, few farmers in Punjab have developed a low-cost, sustainable method to convert paddy stubble into organic manure. By collecting and composting stubble on their fields, these farmers have found a way to improve soil health while avoiding the air pollution caused by stubble burning. The farmers first use farm equipment to cut stubble into small pieces. With the help of a machine mounted on the tractor, they then move the stubble to one side of the farm. “It only takes up a small portion of the field to dump around 26-27 quintals of stubble per acre, and remains there for 6-7 months, gradually breaking down,” farmer Mukesh Chander Sharma from Ranibhati village in Bhojpur block of Jalandhar said, adding that as winter arrives, the cold weather naturally aids the decomposition process due to heavy mist or smog. To further speed up the process, farmers sometimes sprinkle a small amount of urea on the pile. “Adding urea helps in decomposing the stubble faster. It breaks down into a fine, powdery texture by the time we are ready to plant the next crop,” Mukesh said, adding that after six months, they are left with a nutrient-rich organic material in small quantity (around 10 bags) that they can easily spread across the field. The benefits of this approach extend beyond cost. Farmers said that this method costs them less than Rs 1,000 per acre, compared to the significantly higher expenses involved in using machinery for in-situ stubble incorporation. “Earlier, we had to spend a lot on machines to manage the stubble directly in the field, but now, we’re able to avoid those costs almost completely,” said Gurmukh Singh from Gurdaspur’s Rangeelpur village, who is practising it on four acres. “Not only is this method affordable, but it also has an immediate positive impact on the field’s fertility. I saw that once decomposed, the stubble becomes a natural fertilizer, adding nutrients back into the soil, which reduces the need for additional chemical fertilizers to a large extent. The soil quality improves after spreading this composted stubble. It’s a win-win — it makes the field healthier and prepares the field for the next crop and we also save on fertilizer costs,” Gurmukh said. Interestingly, Mukesh said that the method was discovered by accident. “A few years ago, due to heavy rains, our paddy harvest was delayed, and the stubble was left on the field wet. We piled it up on one side, and by the time we checked it a few months later, it had decomposed and we left it like that which finally turned into a powdery heap. It was a natural solution right there,” he said, adding that from then on, some farmers in the area started doing it. The farmers realised they could repeat this process every season and save on stubble management costs. “This low-cost, eco-friendly method presents a promising solution for Punjab's ongoing stubble-burning problem, which contributes significantly to air pollution in the region. By managing stubble on-site without burning, farmers are reducing the harmful smoke emissions that have long affected Punjab’s air quality during harvest seasons,” said Naresh Gulati of the Punjab Agriculture Department. Another farmer added that with this, they have proved that there could be other ways to reduce stubble. “We hope other farmers in Punjab adopt this method as well. It’s simple, inexpensive, and good for the soil,” he added. Mukesh said, “It’s an old-fashioned solution that’s became valuable again. We’re bringing back traditional wisdom with a modern twist, and it’s working.” As Punjab continues to search for viable alternatives to stubble burning, these farmers’ innovative approach may prove to be an effective, sustainable model for future agricultural practices across the region, said Gulati.
