Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, October 17
To end stubble burning, some young farmers have set up huge plants to convert and compress paddy straw into bales in Muktsar district. However, they are now finding it difficult to survive and seek financial assistance from the state government.
Some of them are yet to get the subsidy on the balers purchased about three years ago.
Application sent to higher-ups
We give subsidy just on balers and an application for fund disbursal has been sent to the higher-ups. In case, farmers want subsidy on the entire plant or aid to install a shed, they need to approach the Industries Department or NABARD. —Abhaijeet Singh, Asst engg, Agriculture dept
Kulbir Chahal, a farmer-turned-entrepreneur, said, “I have set up a huge plant at Rahurianwali village, where I store paddy stubble, then convert and compress it into bales, which are usually sent to cow shelters in Gujarat and Rajasthan. We charge nothing from the farmers to clear their fields and sell the bales at Rs 300 per quintal. The input costs and freight charges are quite high, thus the profit is negligible. I have spent almost Rs 2 crore on the entire machinery. Besides, a huge chunk of land is required to run this plant and store the stubble. A single baler costs about Rs 15 lakh. The state offers 50% subsidy on it, but even after three years I have not yet received the amount.”
He added, “Once the stubble caught fire and I suffered a loss of nearly Rs 10 lakh. There were no electricity wires near the fields, still the state government did not give me any compensation.”
Similarly, Kuldeep Singh said, “I am a co-owner of a stubble shredder and baler plant. We are on the verge of closing it. We have invested a huge amount, but rains often damage the stubble kept in the open. The state should at least give subsidy on installing a shed. We prevent stubble burning on nearly 2,000 acres to make bales and send them to other states to be used as fodder for livestock.”
Another young entrepreneur said, “The harvesting season has just started and the state should immediately bring some policy to help us, otherwise we will not be able to run our plants next year. I purchased two balers about two years ago, but the department is yet to give me subsidy.”
Muktsar farmers managing straw struggle to survive
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