Now, a profitable deal for farmers with straw, earning lakhs

In Delhi, the responsibility for air pollution, particularly due to 'Parali' (straw burning), is now becoming beneficial for farmers in Punjab. Many farmers in the state are now earning lakhs by selling it to 'biomass' plants and 'boilers' instead of burning it in the fields. Burning 'Parali' in the fields often holds Punjab's farmers responsible for air pollution. Palvinder Singh, a resident of Gurdaspur, is one of those farmers who purchased a 'baler' last year and started making bundles of 'Parali' with it to sell to businessmen.

A 'baler' is a machine used in the agriculture sector that is connected to a tractor and collects straw in the fields. Palvinder said, "Last year, we sold 1,400 tons of 'Parali,' and this year, we are hoping to sell 3,000 tons of 'Parali. They collect 'Parali' from nearby villages and supply it to a power generation company in Pathankot. Palvinder said that he and his partners have recovered their entire investment within a year, and this year, they are expecting a business worth 1.5 million rupees. They sell 'Parali' at a rate of 180 rupees per quintal. Gurpreet Singh from Malerkotla is another farmer who is earning from paddy straw using a baler. He said, "Last year, I sold 'Parali' worth 2 million rupees and saved about 700,000 rupees after reducing all kinds of expenses."

He sold 1,200 tons of 'Parali' last year and aims to sell 5,000 tons this year. Gurpreet Singh, a landowner of 10 acres in Malerkotla's Kuthala village, said, "This year, we plan to stock some 'Parali' between January and March for sale. Its price goes up to 280-300 rupees per quintal in the early months of the year." He said that currently, the price of 'Parali' is 170 rupees per quintal.

Gurpreet Singh said that last year he prevented farmers from burning 'Parali' on 600 acres of land. He said, "This year, we will prevent it from being burned on more than 2,000 acres of land." Due to the increasing demand for 'Parali' by biomass plants, paper mills, and boilers, many farmers in the state are buying 'balers.' Air pollution has seen significant growth in recent years in the national capital due to 'Parali' burning in Punjab and Haryana during the months of October and November.