According to the CEEW's estimates, delivering one tonne of biomass bale from the farm to an end-user site located 15-30 km away costs Rs 1,500-2,500, and this cost increases with distance. Here are four strategies for northwestern states to align their action plan with the CRM guidelines quickly and achieve zero stubble burning.įirst, states should publish a database of industrial end-users and their annual crop biomass demand. This renewed interest in ex-situ methods opens up an opportunity for India's northwestern states to achieve twin benefits - reduce carbon and air pollutant emissions and develop alternatives for fossil fuels. The centre and state governments will jointly provide financial support of 65 per cent for machinery and equipment to farmer groups, and the remaining 25 per cent and 10 per cent will be contributed by the industry and farmer groups, respectively. The big plan is to establish biomass supply chain systems under the bilateral agreement between industries using biomass and farmer groups. This year, for the first time, there has been a shift in preference towards ex-situ methods under the CRM scheme, which involve treating farm waste off-site for energy production. While a few central policies have encouraged the use of crop biomass as fuel for industrial boilers, bio-CNG production and co-firing in coal-fired power plants, they have seen little progress in the last five years due to the underdeveloped supply chain ecosystems and massive costs involved in biomass collection. Since 2018, India's CRM scheme has largely focused on subsidising in-situ machines to tackle paddy stubble in the field itself, like the Super Seeder. But can it bring down farm fires in Kharif 2023? India recently revised its CRM guidelines to facilitate timely residue management. This perceived crop loss at the start of the Kharif season will likely impact farmers' intent to invest in zero-burn crop residue management (CRM) later in the year. Delayed sowing only means a shorter window to harvest and manage crop residue in already time-pressed states like Punjab, where farmers cultivate wheat immediately after paddy harvesting. Nationally, over 16 per cent less area was covered under paddy as of the first week of July 2023 compared to the corresponding period last year. The unprecedented rain in northern India in early July damaged freshly sown paddy and delayed sowing in states such as Punjab and Haryana. To curb stubble burning during the winter months, India and its states will need to act swiftly this year.
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