Punjab: Baler owners in Punjab are facing disappointment as biomass power plant operators have not made any change in the price of paddy straw this year. Like last year, the price of paddy straw is being offered at Rs 169 per quintal this year too. No change has been made despite efforts made by the district administration and agriculture department to mediate meetings between baler owners and biomass plant representatives. The situation has become more complicated due to some biomass plants having last year’s leftover stock and a major plant in Muktsar district upgrading its machinery, which has reduced the demand for paddy straw compared to last year.
Charanjit Singh Sakkanwali, president of Kisan Baler Union, expressed concern over rising input costs, including diesel, labour and machinery, which is making it difficult for farmers to buy balers. He called upon the government to fix a fair price for paddy straw and suggested that the subsidy for machinery should be paid directly to the sellers, as was done earlier. He argued that with this system, farmers would have to pay only their share, giving more incentive to invest in balers, which can cost up to Rs 20 lakh.
In Muktsar district, paddy and basmati have been cultivated on 2.03 lakh hectares this year, which is expected to produce an estimated 12.10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy straw. Muktsar chief agriculture officer Gurnam Singh acknowledged the concerns of baler owners, but said one of the major biomass plants would buy less straw due to the machinery upgrade. He also said that 21 stubble burning hotspots have been identified, and special officers have been appointed to monitor the situation and spread awareness about managing paddy straw without burning it. An official of a biomass power plant confirmed that the price of Rs 169 per quintal remains unchanged, but said the actual cost of straw for the plant is Rs 300 per quintal considering their operational expenses.
