Haryana Farmers Gain as SAEL Procures 20 Lakh Tonnes Paddy Straw for Clean Energy
Renewable energy company SAEL Industries has begun procuring 20 lakh tonnes of paddy straw in a phased manner for energy generation, a move that gives farmers in Haryana and neighbouring states an income from crop residue at the peak of the harvest season. The straw will be converted into renewable energy at the company’s 11 agri waste-to-energy plants, which together have a capacity of 164.9 megawatts. The procurement is an annual fuel feedstock activity timed to the harvesting season in north India, when large quantities of paddy straw become available within a short window.
For farmers, the initiative turns what was once treated as waste into a revenue stream. SAEL works through local aggregators and collection teams who gather straw from farms and transport it to the energy facilities, so farmers do not have to arrange disposal themselves. Company chief executive Laxit Awla has said paddy straw and other crop residues should no longer be viewed as seasonal waste but as resources with economic value, and that the model creates benefits through revenue from waste, lower fuel costs, and rural employment. With only about 15 to 18 days between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing, timely collection and assured use of straw are critical, and a large buyer with a fixed procurement plan helps farmers clear their fields on time.
The environmental case is equally strong. Burning crop residue before sowing wheat and other winter crops adds to air pollution across north India, and a survey by the Council on Energy Environment and Water found that around 90 per cent of farmers disapproved of stubble burning. The Commission for Air Quality Management has directed Punjab, Haryana, and districts of Uttar Pradesh in the National Capital Region to implement action plans to eliminate paddy stubble burning. By diverting straw into power plants, the procurement drive reduces the pressure to burn residue and supports cleaner air in the winter months, when pollution levels in the region are at their worst.
SAEL Industries is an integrated renewable energy company with operations in solar power, solar module manufacturing, and agri waste-to-energy. Its 11 waste-to-energy plants are spread across Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana, so the benefit is shared across the region’s farming belt, including Haryana’s paddy-growing districts. The company said the procurement will be carried out in phases, which allows collection to keep pace with harvesting and with the capacity of the plants. This phased approach also helps aggregators plan transport and storage, so straw reaches the plants in usable condition rather than being left in fields.
The wider lesson for Haryana’s farmers is that crop residue management is becoming a structured market rather than a seasonal problem. Earlier, farmers had few organised buyers for straw, and the short window between crops made disposal difficult. A procurement programme of 20 lakh tonnes, backed by 11 plants and a network of aggregators, shows that straw can be collected at scale, converted into electricity, and paid for as a farm product. As more such capacity comes up, farmers can expect straw to be treated like any other crop output, with collection, transport, and payment systems built around the harvest calendar.
Farmers in Haryana who grow paddy should watch for local aggregator announcements in their area during the procurement season and confirm collection schedules, so straw is baled and ready when collection teams arrive. The SAEL drive does not replace government stubble management programmes, but it adds a market-based option that pays farmers while cutting pollution. For a state where paddy is a major kharif crop, turning 20 lakh tonnes of straw into clean energy is both an income opportunity and a step towards cleaner winter air.
