Stubble: an opportunity to earn

The Express Tribune says Punjab’s rice-stubble challenge could be addressed by turning farm residues into commercial products, rather than relying mainly on penalties and subsidies. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Clean Air Programme offers growers Rs5,000 per acre, capped at Rs25,000 per farmer, to discourage burning.

The article proposes a Punjab Agricultural Waste-to-Wealth Company to organise straw collection, processing and sales, while encouraging uses such as animal feed, fertiliser, biomass energy and packaging. It also calls for private investment, farmer access to machinery and pilot projects, noting that transport costs, technology and reliable buyers will determine whether individual uses are viable.

For investors, the proposal connects air-pollution policy with potential business activity in rice byproducts, agricultural processing and manufacturing, while stressing that commercial feasibility must come before large-scale investment.