Patna: The Bihar Agriculture Department is actively promoting awareness among farmers to prevent stubble burning and adopt sustainable crop residue management practices. The department has issued guidelines and increased subsidies on key machinery to help farmers manage rice straw and other crop residues efficiently, while enhancing soil fertility and protecting the environment.
Stubble Burning Harms Soil, Environment, and Health
Farmers are advised not to burn rice stubble after harvest, a practice that is often viewed as a quick disposal method. Burning crop residues leads to increased soil temperature, which destroys beneficial microorganisms, earthworms, and essential organic carbon. Additionally, stubble burning contributes to air pollution, adversely affecting human health and the ecosystem.
Instead, the department encourages farmers to convert straw into organic compost by mixing it into the soil. Incorporating one ton of straw into the soil can supply 20–30 kg of nitrogen, 60–100 kg of potash, 5–7 kg of sulfur, and 600 kg of organic carbon, significantly enriching soil fertility while reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.
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Enhanced Subsidies on Crop Residue Management Machinery
To support sustainable farming practices, the department has increased subsidy amounts on several key agricultural machines, including:
- Straw Baler
- Happy Seeder
- Zero-Till Seed-Cum-Fertilizer Drill
- Reaper-Cum-Binder
- Straw Reaper
- Rotary Mulcher
These machines enable farmers to efficiently incorporate crop residues into the soil, create vermicompost, or adopt conservation farming techniques like mulching, thus reducing costs and increasing productivity.
Guidelines for Farmers
Farmers who harvest crops using a combine harvester are advised to use the baler machine to collect and process crop residues rather than burning them. The Agriculture Department has issued detailed instructions, encouraging farmers to:
- Convert straw and crop residues into organic manure.
- Mix residues directly into the soil to improve fertility.
- Use modern agricultural machinery for residue management to save labor and reduce costs.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer Welfare
With these initiatives, the Bihar Agriculture Department aims to reduce environmental pollution, enhance soil health, and improve farmers’ income. By adopting modern crop residue management techniques and utilizing subsidized machinery, farmers can efficiently manage agricultural waste while contributing to sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture practices in the state.
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