Ban on combines without straw mgmt system can work: Experts
KARNAL: The Haryana government’s decision to ban combine harvesters without straw management system (SMS) can help put a check on stubble burning in the state, if implemented effectively, say agriculture experts.
Though the government has appointed SDMs as nodal officers at the subdivisional level to take immediate action against the erring farmers, the owners of combine harvesters seem reluctant to get SMS installed in their machines as it is expensive. The challenge before the government is that nearly 60% of the paddy produce in the state is harvested by combines and most of these do not have SMS.
The farmers and owners of combine harvesters are opposing installation of SMS in combines. On Tuesday, they held a protest at Kaithal mini-secretariat demanding withdrawal of the order banning combines without SMS. They claimed that SMS cannot be installed in old machines which have low horsepower engines and are unable to run the additional straw chopper.
“It is difficult for us to get the SMS installed in our machines at such a short period. The harvesting has already started and we cannot afford skipping the harvesting season,” said Sandeep Kumar of Karnal, who owns five combine harvesters.
HIGH COST
As per owners of combine harvesters, the installation of SMS costs nearly Rs 1.15 lakh per machine and the government was providing only 50% subsidy.
They also said the SMS would also reduce the harvesting capacity of the combine and increase the fuel consumption.
“There were only two-three manufacturers of SMS in Karnal, but the number of combines is between 200 to 250. The installation of the system in one machine takes two-three days, thus it was difficult for operators of combine harvesters to get SMS installed in all machines as the harvesting season will be on its peak in the next two weeks”, he added.
However, some combine operators who have already installed the SMS said they have to increase the harvesting price to meet the increased expenses and farmers will have to bear the extra cost.
They are demanding more subsidy from the government. They argue that if the SMS is mandatory for all combines, why the government is spending crores of rupees to provide 80% subsidy on the implements for straw management as there was no need for further management of straw if the crop was harvested with SMS installed machine.
WHAT IS STRAW MGMT SYSTEM
Haryana agriculture department deputy director Karam Chand said that under the straw management system, a straw chopper is installed in the combine which chops the waste into very small pieces and spreads it behind.
“Thus the farmers need not burn the crop waste and can prepare the fields for the next crop easily,” he said.
The combine harvesters without SMS leave the stubble behind after harvesting and farmers claim that they do not have any other option but to burn it.