Paramita Bhattacharyya
Abstract
Within Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, large volumes of crop residue and dung are generated each year, and their poor disposal, such as open burning and indiscriminate dumping, creates serious environmental problems, including air pollution, soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper estimates the volume of agricultural waste generated in the district, evaluates current waste management practices, and proposes alternative sustainable methods of resource recovery, such as composting, bioenergy, livestock feed and mushroom cultivation using crop residues. This work illustrates the potential for subtropical agricultural fields, with the added benefit of minimizing environmental risks, to utilize agricultural byproducts for the creation of significant economic and environmental resources. However, gaps still remain among the three interconnected components of technology, farmer knowledge and policies. This study advocates for the development of more integrated, waste management policies that consider environmental protection, economic viability, and the long-term sustainability of rural areas.