In view of the dangerous pollution levels in the national Capital, noted Agriculture Scientist MS Swaminathan on Monday suggested to the Chief Ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to set up rice bio parks to create economic value for the stubble. In a series of Tweets, he suggested that like in many countries, rice straw can be used for manufacturing paper, card board and production of animal feed.
He pointed out that in South India, instead of burning the rice straw, the farmers use it as animal feed. Swaminathan, popularly known as father of India’s green revolution and Chairman of National Commission for Farmers said that there is no point in blaming of farmers for stubble burning and he asked the Chief Ministers to help the farmers to convert stubble into income and employment.
“The air pollution in Delhi has become a matter of public health concern nationally and internationally. Farmers are being blamed by many including the Chief Minister of Delhi for burning stubble and thereby causing atmospheric pollution. In South India stubble is not burnt as there’s economic value as animal feed. For years I pointed out many economic uses of rice straw. We should adopt a do-ecology approach with farmers to convert rice stubble into income rather than making them agents of eco-disaster, he said.
Swaminathan pointed out that MS Swaminathan Research Foundation’s (MSSRF) rice bio park in Myanmar, which was inaugurated President of India has shown how stubble can be utilized to make products including paper, cardboard and animal feed. “I suggest that the Delhi, Haryana and UP Governments put up Rice BioParks where farmers can convert stubble into income and employment. We should stop blaming farmers since it will take us nowhere. Instead we should propose methods which are economically & ecologically desirable,” said Swaminathan.