The Express Tribune reports that Punjab could tackle its rice‑stubble burning problem by converting agricultural residues into commercial products, moving beyond fines and subsidies. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Clean Air Programme offers farmers Rs5,000 per acre—up to a maximum of Rs25,000 per farmer—to discourage burning.
The plan proposes establishing a Punjab Agricultural Waste‑to‑Wealth Company to coordinate collection, processing, and sale of straw, while promoting its use as animal feed, fertiliser, biomass energy, and packaging. It also calls for private investment, farmer access to equipment, and pilot projects, noting that transport costs, technology, and reliable buyers will dictate the feasibility of individual applications.
For investors, the proposal links air‑pollution policy with business opportunities in rice byproducts, agricultural processing, and manufacturing, stressing that commercial viability should precede large‑scale funding.
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