Can Straw Boards Help Reduce Stubble Burning?
Every year, farmers in north India clear their fields fast so the next crop can be sown. The quickest way is fire. This sends smoke into the air and wastes useful material. Can a board made from straw help? A little, and it is worth being honest about how much.
How big is the problem?
India produces roughly 500 million tonnes of crop residue a year, and about 85 to 100 million tonnes are burned. Punjab alone produces around 19 to 20 million tonnes of paddy straw every year.
What is changing?
Government data shared in Parliament in December 2025 showed about a 90% fall in stubble fires across Punjab and Haryana in 2025 compared with 2022. In-situ management, which means mixing straw into the soil, accounts for most of the straw now kept out of the fire.
Where do boards come in?
Mixing straw into the soil is only one use. Sending straw away for another use, called ex-situ use, is much smaller, around 3 to 6 million tonnes a year. A board factory is one place where straw can go.
What does BIOMEBOARD™ use?
Our board is about 95% wheat straw, not paddy straw. Wheat straw is harvested in April and May. Paddy straw is the one most linked to the October and November smoke. We want to be clear about this so we do not overclaim.
What can a board maker really do?
A single company cannot take in all of Punjab's straw. What it can do is:
- Pay farmers for straw, creating income.
- Show that straw has value beyond removal cost.
- Replace some wood-based boards with a crop-based one.
What would help most?
- Nearby collection and baling points.
- Local factories close to the farms.
- Demonstration projects, such as a school fit-out, that show the idea working.
Why the type of straw matters
Paddy straw is harvested in October and November, which leaves a very short gap before wheat is sown. That tight window is why farmers reach for fire. Wheat straw is harvested in April and May and has long been used for animal fodder. The two crops create different problems, so solutions must be matched to each.
FAQs
Does stubble burning cause Delhi's smog?
It contributes, but the share changes by year and day. Vehicles, dust and weather also matter.
What can be made from stubble?
Boards, fuel pellets, paper, packaging, animal feed and compost.
Does using straw for boards stop burning?
It helps a little. It does not solve the whole problem by itself.
Is BIOMEBOARD™ made from paddy straw?
No. It is mainly wheat straw.
How do farmers benefit?
They can sell straw instead of burning it.
What is the difference between in-situ and ex-situ?
In-situ means managing straw in the field, for example mixing it into the soil. Ex-situ means taking it away for another use, such as boards, fuel or fodder.
Does burning straw harm the soil?
Yes. It destroys nutrients and useful soil life.
Want to know where our straw comes from? Ask us.