With reference to 'Delhi Government's Bio-decomposer and Spray Programme', which of the following statements is/are correct?

Question

With reference to 'Delhi Government's Bio-decomposer and Spray Programme', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Bio-decomposer solution is provided free of cost to farmers to help convert stubble into manure.

2. The Bio-decomposer solution is prepared using a mix of several fungi.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. Only 2
2. B. Neither 1 nor 2
3. C. Both 1 and 2 (Correct answer)
4. D. Only 1

Correct Answer

Option C — Both 1 and 2

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

• Statement 1 is correct. The Delhi Government sprayed the bio-decomposer solution free of cost on farmers' fields to convert paddy stubble into manure in situ, as an alternative to burning it.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Pusa Bio-decomposer, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi, is a capsule-based formulation made from a consortium of seven fungal strains that break down cellulose and lignin in the stubble.
• Both statements hold, giving option (c).

Additional Information

• Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh is a major contributor to the severe air pollution of the Delhi-NCR region every October and November.
• The bio-decomposer converts the residue into manure in about 20-25 days, improving soil organic carbon rather than destroying it.
• The statutory body for air quality in the region is the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, set up in 2021.