PADDY STRAW PROCUREMENT: A CASE STUDY OF POWER PLANTS IN PUNJAB

In Punjab the most popular trend is to burn Paddy straw in the fields after the moment of yielding paddy. As, paddy straw consists predominantly of fibres that cannot be used by the animals as fodders. In open fields, the burning of paddy straw has contributed to the release of CO2, CO, NOx and other gases that have a detrimental impact on the atmosphere and the human body. By integrating biomass-based power generation, power plants can produce electrical energy and fed to the local villages or to the power grid. This helps to reduce the combustion of paddy straw in the fields. This study investigated the paddy straw procurement models used by the existing power plants in Punjab and discussed the challenges faced by the companies. The study reveals that the challenges faced are Awareness, Facilitate & Educate farmers and contractors, Preparation of the Paddy straw for collection from fields to storage location, Endorse contractors to invest in the bailer machines and transport wagons and Paddy straw Handling & Transportation. This results in average of 64.46% by one power plant and 65.30% by second power plant of paddy straw has been collected as per the requirement.