'Happy-seeder' machines by govt to tackle paddy problem

The Punjab government has drawn up ambitious plans to reduce paddy straw burning, which at present is to the extent of about 80 per cent in the state and causes high environmental pollution and also burns organic matter worth Rs 250 crore annually.

To tackle the problem, the state government has decided to distribute 200 ‘happy seeders’ machines that sow wheat among standing rice stubble among Primary Agriculture Cooperatives Societies (PACS) in the state. The machine would be distributed in the state through Punjab State Farmers Commission.

Speaking to Business Standard, Punjab State Farmers Commission consultant, P S Rangi, said, “The commission has decided to give 80 machines free of cost and the remaining 120 machines at a 50 per cent subsidy to the PACS, with the grants received from the state agriculture department.”

It is worth mentioning that each machine costs Rs 115,000.”

On being asked about the machine, he added, “The machine, known as happy seeder has been developed which helps sow wheat in the standing rice stubbles. This not only stops rice straw burning, but also helps improve soil fertility by incorporation of organic matter in the soil. During 2009-10, wheat crop season the commission introduced the machine for large scale demonstration. Buoyed by the results, we decided to introduce this machine over much larger area in the coming Rabi season. Besides, straw balers were introduced to bind the straw and supply the same to small bio-mass power plants and for co-generation of power by the sugar mills. Happy seeders and straw balers need to be promoted vigorously to help farmers for avoiding burning of paddy straw.”

He mentioned that the introduction of 200 machines would help in preventing straw burning in at least 20,000 hectares this year. It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab government has designated 27 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation this Khariff season, an increase of one lakh hectares over the previous year’s target. Also, it is expecting that that the actual production of rice would touch 108 lakh metric tonnes this season. Looking at the total area under paddy cultivation, the area covered by the machine seems to be very less, but experts feel that machine can play important role in stalling paddy straw burning in near future once its adoption increases among the farmers.

According to estimates by the PSFC, organic matter-nitrogenous fertilisers worth Rs 250 crore annually is lost by burning of Paddy straw.