Baler owners in Punjab are facing disappointment as biomass power plant operators have not revised the price for paddy stubble this year, offering the same rate of Rs 169 per quintal as last year. Despite efforts by the district administration and the Agriculture Department to mediate meetings between baler owners and biomass plant representatives, no changes have been made.
The situation has been further complicated by some biomass plants holding leftover stock from the previous year, and a major plant in the Muktsar district currently upgrading its machinery, reducing demand for paddy stubble compared to last year.
Charanjit Singh Sakkanwali, president of the Kisan Baler Union, expressed concern over rising input costs, including diesel, labour and machinery, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to afford balers. He called on the government to fix a fair price for paddy stubble and suggested that subsidies for machinery be paid directly to vendors, as was done in the past. This system, he argued, would allow farmers to pay only their share, encouraging more to invest in balers, which can cost up to Rs 20 lakh. Muktsar district has 2.03 lakh hectares under paddy and basmati cultivation this year, with an estimated 12.10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble expected to be produced.
Gurnam Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer of Muktsar, acknowledged the concerns of baler owners but noted that one of the major biomass plants would be purchasing less stubble due to machinery upgrades. He also mentioned that 21 stubble-burning hotspots have been identified, and special officers have been appointed to monitor the situation and raise awareness about managing paddy stubble without burning.
An executive from a biomass power plant confirmed that the price of Rs 169 per quintal remains unchanged, but noted that the actual cost of stubble for the plants amounts to Rs 300 per quintal, considering their operational expenses.
