Nearly 200 custom hiring centers (CHCs) have successfully supplied around 15,000 metric tons of paddy straw to the Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) ethanol plant in Panipat. Each CHC consists of groups of 10-15 farmers in each district, showcasing an effective model for managing paddy straw. To facilitate the collection process, six collection yards have been established in Karnal district for storing processed crop residue before it is sent to the plant.
The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department in Karnal aims to deliver 100,000 metric tons of stubble bundles to the IOCL plant. The corporation compensates either the CHCs or individual farmers at a rate of Rs 1,900 per ton for this supply.
According to a report by The Tribune, Dr. Wazir Singh, Deputy Director of Agriculture in Karnal, outlined the department’s broader goals: “We aim to manage nearly 200,000 MT of paddy straw through in situ methods and 550,000 MT through ex situ methods. About 100,000 MT will be utilized as fodder. We plan to supply 100,000 MT of paddy stubble to the IOCL in Panipat, sourced through ex situ methods. Nearly 200 CHCs have already provided 15,000 MT of paddy, and the remainder will be supplied soon. We have established paddy straw collection centers for IOCL at Bandrala, Amupur, Agondh, Bhambarehri, Jamalpur, and other locations.”
Dr. Singh further explained that CHCs and farmers transport the stubble bundles to these centers, with IOCL making direct payments to the farmers’ accounts.
Karnal district encompasses 560,000 acres of cultivable land, with 525,000 acres currently under crops, including 425,000 acres dedicated to paddy, of which 150,000 acres are allocated for basmati rice. The paddy crops generate approximately 850,000 metric tons of straw, consisting of 300,000 metric tons from basmati and 550,000 metric tons from non-basmati varieties.
