Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal initiated the process of making the bio-decomposer solution in collaboration with the Pusa Institute at Kharkhari Nahar. The Chief Minister, on this occasion, appealed to all the states that, like the Delhi Government, other states should also help their farmers in smelting stubble and bear the entire cost of spraying bio-decomposer. Last time, around 300 farmers in Delhi had sprayed bio-decomposer on 1,950 acres of farmland. This time, 844 farmers of Delhi are going to spray it in about 4,200 acres of land, excited by its performance.
On Friday, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that now there is a solution for stubble management; and from making the bio-decomposer solution to spraying, it costs less than one thousand rupees per acre. The Commission For Air Quality Management has also ordered all the states to use bio-decomposer, so that the problem of stubble burning can be eradicated. At the same time, Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai said that when all the state governments together move towards the solution of stubble decomposition, only then its solution is possible.
Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the process of making the bio-decomposer solution at Kharkhari Nahar for decomposing stubble in the fields. The Bio-decomposer solution is being prepared in collaboration with ICAR-Pusa in the Horticulture Department Nursery, Kharkhari Nahar for the entire Delhi at one place. Wherever the demand for sprinkling arises, the solution will be provided from Kharkhari Nahar. All over Delhi, the free spraying will be done by the Delhi Government through the Agriculture Department. CM Arvind Kejriwal inspected and took stock of the process of making the solution. Environment Minister Gopal Rai, MLA Gulab Singh, Co-Commissioner Madhup Vyas, Special Development Commissioner RP Meena, Nodal Officer of Bio-De-composer Management – Pusa Institute Indramani Mishra, Head of Agriculture Engineering, among others were present.
Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “Last year, the Delhi Government in collaboration with the Pusa Institute, developed a unique solution for stubble management. We have prepared a bio-decomposer spray which is very efficient. Earlier, farmers would burn the stubble left in their fields after harvesting. Now the stubble decomposes within 15-20 days of spraying the solution and turns into a fertiliser. Stubble was earlier a liability for us when it had to be burnt, but now, once it decomposes, it turns into an asset. When stubble is burnt, nutrients and good bacteria of the soil also tend to get eradicated. But when it is decomposed using the solution, it enriches the soil. WAPCOS, an agency of the Central Government, found that among several other nutrients, the carbon and nitrogen content of the soil had significantly increased in the soil.”
The CM further said, “Last time, about 300 farmers adopted the solution and it was sprayed in almost 1,950 acres of land. This time, 844 farmers have come forward to use the solution on 4,200 acres of land. We are thrilled to see their response and how a very positive word of mouth has spread amongst the farmers’ community about the bio-decomposer. Last time, we sprayed it on only non-basmati paddy fields, this time we will spray it on basmati paddy fields as well and cover almost all the farmlands of Delhi.”
“When we used to talk about finding solutions for stubble management, we’d only have the most expensive machinery to buy and get rid of stubble. But now that the bio-decomposer has been developed, I can safely say that we have found a very cost-effective solution for stubble management. The entire cost from the preparation to the spraying of the bio-decomposer is under a thousand rupees per acre. The Delhi Government is bearing the entire cost of the solution throughout Delhi. It is our appeal to other state governments to follow suit and help their farmers like the Delhi Government. If the Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments especially implement the solution with the seriousness of an emergency, then we’ll be able to get rid of the problem. The Commission For Air Quality Management too has now taken cognisance of the bio-decomposer and asked the states to implement the solution to get rid of stubble burning.”
Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai said, “stubble plays a big role in the increase in pollution in Delhi during winters. The Delhi Government is working towards controlling the pollution in the state. Last year, the Delhi Government, in association with the Pusa Institute, sprayed a solution of bio-decomposer to check pollution caused by stubble burning. Last time it was sprayed in about two thousand acres of paddy field. This time, there is a lot of demand from the farmers for spraying the solution. This time we are preparing to spray it in an area of more than 4 thousand acres. Today, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal has initiated the process of making the solution. We are also ready to start the process of spraying it from October 5.”
The Environment Minister said that there is very little stubble inside Delhi. “Most of the stubble is generated in Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring states. That’s why we have requested that until all the states together do not move towards the solution of stubble decomposition, it is difficult to solve the problem. The governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh have been asked by the Commission For Air Quality Management to start spraying bio-decomposer. I request that like Delhi, if other governments prepare it at their own expense and spray it in the fields of farmers, then more success will be achieved,” he said.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “The demand for the bio-decomposer is expected to come even now, in view of that, we are also making preparations for extra spraying. If the bio-decomposer is sprayed in all the neighbouring states, the pollution in Delhi will be much lesser. When we used it in Delhi, the stubble had completely decomposed, the farmers did not need to burn the stubble. In addition, the fertility of the fields has also increased. If all the states come forward and spray bio-decomposer to decompose the stubble, then surely the stubble problem can be eradicated and pollution can be reduced. A team of 25 people has been formed under the leadership of the officers of the Agriculture Department, who are going from village to village and talking to the farmers and getting the forms filled. From making the bio-decomposer solution to spraying it in the fields, about one thousand rupees per acre is being spent. About Rs 50 lakh is expected to be spent on spraying it on the farmlands.”
Pusa Institute’s Bio-Decomposer Management Nodal Officer Indramani Mishra said that ten companies have been given licences to make capsules of the bio-decomposer. “Based on the success received last year, United Phosphorus Limited are enthusiastically going to spray the solution in 5 lakh acres of land in Punjab and Haryana. There has been a demand for the bio-decomposer for one lakh acres of farmland from the Haryana Government. Also, a demand for 75 thousand acres of land has come from the Punjab Government. The Uttar Pradesh Government is also excited about its results and is going to use it in 10 lakh acres of farmland. Seeing the success of the campaign launched by the Delhi Government last year, neighbouring states are also going to use the bio-decomposer solution on a large scale.
*The process of making the bio-decomposer solution:*
Take 150gm Gud and add it to 5 litres of water. Boil the Gud vigorously and remove all dirt with a sieve. Cool the Gud solution in a deep square tray/tub till it is slightly warm. Add 50gm Besan and mix. Break four capsules of the bio-decomposer and mix nicely. Cover with a thin cloth and keep in a warm place. Growth will start in two to three days. A mat of different colours will start to develop.After four days of good mat formation, add 5 litres of warm gud solution again, without besan and mix nicely. After every two days, repeat the step until 25 litre culture is prepared.Mix the final 25 litre solution and make the liquid culture ready to apply.
(EW correspondent)
