As trust builds, many who chose the Delhi government’s sprinkler initiative last year re-sign up
The Delhi government’s initiative to spray bio-decomposer solution in agricultural fields to help convert stubble into manure has brought relief to many farmers in the city.
Some farmers whose fields were sprayed with the solution last year told Hindu That this move helped them save money as the government was doing it for free. This year, officials have so far sprayed the solution in over 500 acres of fields in the city, officials said. “We plan to continue the spraying till November 15. Last year, the government had sprayed the solution in about 1,935 acres,” an official said.
However, the time taken in the administrative process is bothering the farmers union. “The government says it will come to the villages and register the names of those who want the solution to be sprayed in their fields. But actually farmers have to go to BDO (Block Development Office) for registration. The government takes about a week to spray the solution after harvest and this is creating difficulties. If this process is delayed, sowing is also delayed and farmers suffer. Virendra Dagar, Delhi state chief of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh said, the government has to decide the administrative procedure for sprinkling the solution.
appeal to repeat
The Delhi government, which first used the bio-degradable solution last year, sees it as a means to reduce stubble burning and has been urging other states to adopt the measure.
Devendra Mann, a 45-year-old farmer from Naya Bans village, said the solution was sprayed on about 11 acres in his field last year and it helped him save around Rs 1,500 per acre. “I saved around ₹1,000 per acre on diesel [for tractor] and ₹300-₹400 per acre as labor charges due to bio-degradable spraying,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Mann had to plow his field several times to cut the stubble after harvest and turn the soil. After plowing two or three times, he used to release water in the field and leave it for about 10 days. The water helped to decompose the stubble to an extent. To prepare his field for the next crop, he had to plow again two or three times using various tools attached to his tractor. The spraying of bio-decomposer involves a similar process, but the tillage rounds are shorter as the stubble decomposes faster and better, officials said.
“When the government first approached us, we did not believe in this move. Still I gave my consent to spray the solution. Twenty days later, I removed the top soil and checked and found that the straw was rotten. This year too, I have asked officials to spray the solution in my fields,” said Sahadev Mann, a farmer from Holambi Khurd village.
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