'Decomposer capsule will help in dealing with pollution problem'

IARI scientist said the capsule is to be mixed in a mixture of Jaggery and gram flour and kept for four-five days in a cool place. Thereafter, the mixture could be spread over the crop residue. The mixture would then decompose the whole crop residue and turn it into good quality compost.

New Delhi: The Delhi Government is helping farmers prepare a mixture of decomposer capsule, which was developed by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), to deal with the problem of crop residue burning that causes a major environmental and health problem in North India every year.

Y P Singh, senior scientist, IARI, told ETV Bharat here that the technology, which is environment friendly, would prove beneficial for all concerned.

He said the capsule is to be mixed in a concoction of Jaggery and gram flour and kept for four-five days in a cool place. Thereafter, the mixture could be spread over the crop residue. The mixture would then decompose the whole crop residue and turn it into good quality compost.

On being asked how long the process of decomposing would take, the IARI scientist said that it takes 20-25 days and this is what the farmers require to prepare their farms for the next crop.

"The paddy crop is being harvested these days. The crop residue could be decomposed within the next 20-25 days and this is how the farms are ready for the wheat crop," he said, adding that the farmers, even if they burn their crop residue, take 29-25 days to prepare for the next crop.

"This process of decomposition by the mixture of the capsules would help them in more than one way," he said, adding that it will reduce pollution and also help farmers by enriching the soil.

He also informed that the mixture is prepared in the national capital would be used in farms from October 11 onward.