Dark plumes of smoke engulfed Dilip Baral’s wide paddy fields in Odisha’s Resinga village for nearly two decades. Like the majority of the farmers in the country, Dilip too would burn the agricultural waste after harvesting his rice crop.
Since it was the fastest method to clear the land and begin another sowing cycle, the 52-year-old didn’t mind the air pollution it caused. It was either spending thousands of rupees to clear the fields or compromise on his health for a day or two.
However, things changed when the International Potato Centre approached a couple of veteran farmers like him in the village to introduce a paddy straw-based technique of growing potatoes.
Surprised at first on finding out that paddy straw can be an asset in a way that can save water and labour costs, Dilip agreed to implement the method and underwent the training.
Two years after the training, Dilip has managed to put an end to the practice of stubble burning. Additionally, in the last…