The fact that the time gap to sow new crop during October-November is only 15-20 days make the farmers resort to crop burning. To lessen the worries of farmers from the wheat bowl states of India, and to lend them a helping hand, Birlasoft initiated a Community Initiative called 'Shodhan'. Shodhan, in Hindi, signifies 'Purification'.
In 2017, Shodhan set up its footprints in two villages of Punjab, both of which had witnessed stubble burning in the past. In a span of four years, the initiative has covered more than 70+ villages and 56,300+ acres of agricultural land.
This was made possible because of the Birlasoft volunteers, who in collaboration with the
CII Foundation, contributed their effort and time in the initiative, their never-ending support to the farmers' family, took the project to the next level.
Impact of the Interventions in 2020-21
- Stubble burning checked in 90% farm area and 5% - 7% increase in yield
- Net water savings estimated to be almost 2.6 billion liters
- The adoption of sustainable practice improved to almost 95% after the intervention as compare to 9% in 2019
- 22,560 tons of rice straw were avoided from being burnt
- Avoided Air Quality Impacts: 117 t PM2.5; 143 t VOCs; 83 t NH3; 39 t NOx and 5.8 t