Akanksha Singh, Prachi Shukla, Sarita Srivastav, Suman Prasad Maurya and Minal Rai
Abstract
Paddy straw burning is one of the major contributors to agricultural pollution in northern India, leading to loss of soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental degradation. The present study was undertaken in six villages of Ayodhya and Sultanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh to assess the socio-economic characteristics, agricultural practices, and awareness levels of rice-growing farmers regarding paddy straw utilization. A total of 200 respondents (100 per district) were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using percentage and comparative methods. Findings reveal that most respondents belong to small and marginal farming categories with low annual income (<30,000). A high level of awareness about the environmental impacts of paddy straw burning was observed, and 100% of the respondents expressed interest in developing value-added products from paddy straw. The study emphasizes the potential for promoting sustainable residue management through training, technological interventions, and value addition initiatives.