Production, utilization and management of crop residue on Punjab farms

Considering the earnest need for a well-managed CRM system with good potential for resource use, the present study was conducted in the Punjab state during the year 2020-21. On average, 14.66 q of crop residue was generated from each acre. Among the four prevalent strategies of CRM i.e. complete burning (CB), partial burning (PB), complete incorporation (CI) and complete removal (CR), the CB was mostly followed for paddy and basmati though CR and CI were preferred for other crops. Of the total crop residue generated, only about 37 per cent was utilised at the domestic level as fodder, fuel and littering material. About 60 percent of the surplus paddy residue was used in industries and the rest 40 percent was incorporated into the soil and no use of paddy residue consumption at the domestic level was observed. Only about 8 per cent basmati residue was used as fodder. Surplus cotton residue was either sold (65.33%), gifted to others (20.1%), and paid in kind to the labour for picking the cotton (14.57%). The major share of wheat residue i.e. about 93 per cent as fodder for the livestock and the surplus was mainly stored for future use. Compensation /incentives to farmers opting for non-burning of crop residue on farms, ensuring the timely availability of residue management machines at-subsidised rates, better custom hiring services and promoting the diversified uses of residue can prove to be-better alternatives for addressing the state’s crop residue management problem.