Double delight for cotton growers

Double delight for cotton growers
Boost income by selling cotton stalk to bio-mass power plants
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 18

With three biomass power plants set up in this part of Malwa region — known as cotton belt of the state —the cotton growers are a happy lot as they are earning a handsome amount for their agro-waste.
The cotton stalk (agro residue), which was earlier hardly of any use to them is now being sold to biomass plants, which use it as fuel for generating electricity.
Thanks to the close competition among those running the biomass plants, farmers are getting payments on time. At some places, the residue is being booked in advance.
To allure farmers, the plant authorities have set up cluster-wise purchase centres across Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts. Each centre caters to about 10 surrounding villages.
Besides, trading in cotton stalk has emerged as a fresh business. The cotton stalk is procured from farmers, stored and then sold to the bio-mass plants at a higher price.
They are hiring large chunks of lands in different villages on lease to store the agro-waste.
During a random survey, The Tribune observed that the normal price for a quintal of cotton stalk was fixed at
Rs 70. It means an average trolley-load of 35 quintals helps a farmer earn Rs 2,450. Further, chipped stalk is being purchased at about Rs 120 per quintal.
“One might be surprised to learn that selling the crop is a hectic process but selling the residue is comparatively a quicker and effortless job. We go to a purchase centre, get the trolley weighed, unload it, collect a slip and receive the cash the very next day,” claimed Gurdas Singh, a farmer from Dhunike village.
Acknowledging his views, one Parkash Singh of Ghudda village said, “While selling cotton crop, we face harassment as we have to wait for a couple of days in mandis. We sometimes even stage dharnas and block roads to build pressure upon the government for smooth and speedy purchase but selling residue is a more smooth process.” Cotton stalk was earlier used as fuel by households in rural areas.
An elated farmer said, “Gone are those hassles. Availing of subsidies, we have installed bio-gas plants at our home, from which we get free cooking gas. In addition, we sell stalk at handsome rates.”
According to information available, there are three biomass power plants in the area, all in the private sector.
The plant located at Channu village (Muktsar) has a capacity for 15 MW power generation while the other two situated at villages Gulabewala (Muktsar) and Gadda Dob (Ferozepur) have a capacity for 7.5 MW and 8 MW generation.
Dinesh Bhardwaj, manager of the Malwa Power Private Limited, Gulabewala, said, “As the plants require hundreds of tonnes of agro-residue everyday, we are purchasing it to the best of our capacity. We open a purchase centre wherever there stalk. is available. We collect as much stalk as possible.”