Pusa Decomposer

Subject – Agriculture

Context – A year after first trying it, farmers warm up to Pusa decomposer, officials plan to ramp up use.

Concept –

Used to decompose paddy stubble after a harvest and prevent stubble burning, the decomposer was sprayed on around 30 acres of farmer Umesh Singh’s farmland in Hiranki village last year.
It can take about 20 to 22 days for stubble to decompose.
The decomposer has also helped improve soil fertility and reduced the need for extensive ploughing to mix stubble with soil.
By the time farmworkers arrive to sow the wheat, the land is free of stubble.
The decomposer has reduced the need for fertiliser.
The paddy is ready for harvesting in some fields, but there has been no information from the government yet on whether or not the decomposer will be made available.
Indramani Mishra, head of the Agricultural Engineering Department at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute where the decomposer was developed, said it is likely to be used more extensively this year. It has been licensed to nine companies for production.