How Indore’s 'Kisan Didi' Sparked a Movement Against Stubble Burning, Saved 600 Bighas of Farmland
The problem of post-harvest stubble burning has persisted in North India for a long time; however, in Dhulet village of Madhya Pradesh's Indore district, a woman farmer has set a remarkable example in the effort to change this trend. Mrs. Papita Rawat, a resident of the village, not only raised awareness among farmers but also played a pivotal role in curbing stubble burning by providing alternative solutions.
A Journey That Started Through a Self-Help Group
Mrs. Papita Rawat, who serves as the president of a self-help group, began her journey by associating herself with the Livelihood Mission. Amidst initial financial hardships, she started out by undertaking tailoring work. Driven by her interest in agricultural activities, she later secured a loan from her self-help group and a bank to purchase a 'Stubble Reaper' machine. Subsequently, she educated farmers within her village and the surrounding areas about the detrimental effects of burning stubble and the benefits of converting it into fodder (chaff).
600 Bighas of Farmland Saved from Stubble Burning
Today, across a wide radius surrounding Dhulet village in the district, not a single farmer burns stubble—the remaining stalks and crop residue left behind after the wheat harvest—in their fields. The credit for this transformation goes to the woman farmer, Mrs. Papita Rawat.
Papita Rawat recounts: "In the early days, I stayed at home while my husband, Mahesh, went out to work as a daily wage laborer. We constantly faced financial hardship at home. One day, officials from the Aajeevika Mission visited our village. We formed the 'Dwarkadhish Self-Help Group.'
Papita said, 'We acquired a sewing machine and began working. Subsequently, I took out a loan and purchased a 'Straw Reaper Machine.'
Papita educated farming families—both within her village and in the surrounding areas—about the detrimental effects of burning crop residue and the benefits of converting it into fodder (chaff). 'In no time at all, this year alone, we successfully prevented the burning of crop residue across more than 600 bighas of farmland following the harvest,' says Papita.
Economic benefits for the farmers
By converting this residue into fodder, she generated economic benefits for the farmers, who are now utilizing it as 'cattle feed' for their livestock.
Gayatri Rathore, the District Manager for the DAY-Aajeevika Mission, explains: "This self-help group was linked to the 'Aastha Cluster Organization' in Khudel through the Village Organization network. Papita Rawat is doing excellent work in her role as a 'Kisan Didi' (Farmer Sister). In addition to her agricultural initiatives, she has also ventured into animal husbandry and is currently running a milk production business with a herd of four cattle."
Driving positive change
Agricultural scientists point out that the mindset of burning crop residue remains prevalent among farmers. Across the state alone, the practice of burning residue in hundreds of acres of farmland is putting the soil's fertility at risk.
Siddharth Jain, Chief Executive Officer of the Indore District Panchayat, stated that the District Administration and the Department of Agriculture are continuously conducting awareness campaigns to discourage the burning of crop residue. Officials note that women farmers like Mrs. Rawat are not only becoming self-reliant themselves but are also driving positive change within both society and the agricultural sector. This initiative in Dhulet village demonstrates that serious issues—such as the burning of crop residue—can indeed be resolved through a combination of awareness, innovation, and collective effort.