In my last blog, I wrote about crop burning in India and its severe effect on pollution in major cities. During my research, I also found many innovative practices used to help reduce the frequency of crop burning. One such effort, which I found very inspiring, is highlighted below.
Crop burning is a cheap and effective way for farmers in India to clear the land at the end of each season. Many farmers in India know the environmental consequences of crop burning, especially the resulting pollution in their neighboring cities. However, they don’t always have the resources to fix or change their practices. They require significant education from all sources, including government, private, and NGOs, to help them be sensitive to this practice.
In India, many people can positively influence and help curb the practice. Farmer Gurdeep Singh is a prime example of a leader in this effort. Mr. Singh followed standard crop-burning practices; however, in 2017, he changed his practice and was the first adopter of a new machine aptly named the “Happy Seeder” (Nature).
The happy seeder is an add-on part that attaches to a standard tractor commonly used by farmers in India. This machine chops leftover straw and converts it into soil using its seed drill. This alleviates the need for crop burning and increases crop yields naturally (Nature).
Not all farmers have yet adopted the Happy Seeder. The common concern among farmers about it is that it’s too expensive. To buy a happy seeder, a farmer must pay approximately 157,757 Indian rupees (USD 1,900). While the initial cost is high, farmers do not fully realize that the crop-burning practice makes them use far more fertilizer due to soil damage, adding to the total cost. Continued education on overall cost reduction with the happy seeder is required over time. Despite a higher upfront cost, the Happy Seeder allows for years of high-quality production, increased yields, and less fertilizer use. Mr. Singh says the new crops can withstand wind and, in general, are far better quality crops (nature).
Another benefit of the happy seeder is that it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% per hectare per the CIMMYT study referenced below. Mechanisms to increase adoption of devices such as the happy seeder among farmers should be increased. Potential solutions could include interest-free loans, tax breaks, easy rental of happy seeders, etc. These solutions could be effectively employed by either the state or national government for broader adoption. This will not completely fix all the issues relating to crop burning in India; however, it will be a big step in the right direction.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/magazine/magazine-articles/india-agriculture/
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