Editors: Dr. Mani Jayakumar

Dr. Natchimuthu Karmegam (2022)

ISBN: 978-93-94174-05-4

The Role of Paper Mills in India’s Agronomy: Integrating Agro Industry with Sustainable Agriculture

Amit Sharma^*

PhD Scholar, Department of Printing Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar - 125001 (Haryana), India

Agronomy, traditionally focused on soil and crop management at the field level, must now engage with broader economic and environmental systems to meet modern sustainability challenges. This chapter examines the dynamic interface between agronomy and agro-industry, with a particular focus on India’s paper and pulp sector—ranked 15th globally and increasingly reliant on agro-residues as raw material. Agro-based paper mills are emerging as critical agents in transforming agricultural byproducts such as bagasse, wheat and rice straw, and cotton stalks into valuable industrial feedstock. This process not only reduces crop residue burning—a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions—but also offers farmers new income streams and promotes circular resource use. With India generating over 500 million tonnes of crop residues annually, but utilizing only 15% in paper production, a significant opportunity exists to expand sustainable residue use. The chapter highlights the agronomic benefits of partial residue retention, including improved soil porosity, organic carbon levels, microbial activity, and moisture retention. Empirical studies underscore the importance of maintaining at least 30–40% of residues in situ to preserve ecosystem functions. The chapter also explores the socioeconomic implications of integrating paper mills into rural economies through contract farming, buy-back mechanisms, and infrastructure support. Policy frameworks such as the National Bioenergy Programme and SAMARTH are evaluated for their role in facilitating biomass utilization. To ensure ecological balance and economic viability, future strategies must include decentralized residue procurement, soil health monitoring, and standardized pricing mechanisms. In conclusion, India’s agro-based paper mills serve as a vital conduit linking sustainable agronomy with rural economic resilience and environmental stewardship. Strategic residue management, supported by robust policy and stakeholder collaboration, is essential to realizing this potential and aligning agro-industrial growth with the nation’s sustainable development goals.

*Corresponding author; e-mail: camit21mech@rediffmail.com

Cite this Chapter: Amit Sharma., 2022. The Role of Paper Mills in India’s Agronomy: Integrating Agro Industry with Sustainable Agriculture. In: M. Jayakumar and N. Karmegam (Eds.), Recent Trends in Bioresource Management for Greener Environment. Excellent Publishers, India. pp. 237-. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/978-93-94174-05-4_15