States in eastern and southern India have no stubble burning problem as they are growing short duration paddy producing low quantum of left out straw. Diversification of water intensive crops like paddy to other crops requiring less water is not yet picking up in northern states to satisfactory level.
Stubble, in agriculture, refers to left out portion or stalk of cereal crops like wheat and rice in the field after harvesting (crop cutting) is over. This crop residue or stover has become a challenge for farmers as these leads to various issues like obstruction of tilling for next crop, taking longer period to decompose, harbouring pests or disease and encouraging weed growth. The present practice of burning these is common in many northern states to quickly clear the fields causing huge harm to the surrounding environment. Farmers usually adopt this burning as it is a cheap and quick method for them. But this way of deliberate setting of fire (commonly known as Parali Burning) creates a serious climatic hazard for surrounding environment and the people around them. Crop residue burning is a potential source of Green House Gases (GHG), therefore, emitting huge carbon and nitrogen causing health hazards like skin and eye irritation, serious neurological and cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
Hence the impact of such burning is too big as it emits greenhouse gases and other gases that are radioactively and chemically significant and beyond the limit set by Central Pollution Control Board. Every year in winter, Delhi sees clouds of ash and smoke causing health hazards for people. The nutrients like Nitrogen, Potassium and sulphur present in crop residue are wasted by burning stubbles. The option for alternate productive uses of stubble is not accessed as farmers are burning the crop remaining in the field itself. Soil fertility is also reduced to great extent as useful soil nutrients are lost by burning the stacks.
Broadly, there are two ways to address this issue, either by crop residue management or by processing the stubble. Ploughing the stubble back into the soil improve the organic matter and soil fertility. Leaving the stubble back into the soil can improve organic matter and fertility in soil. Allowing the stubble on the field helps it to mulch, thereby conserving soil moisture and preventing weeds. Secondly, Stubbles can be sent to processing industries for making animal feed, ethanol, biogas, bio-fuel, paper and handicrafts and generating power.
In 2014, the Union Government released the National Policy for Crop Residue Management (CRM) and advised farmers to manage residues effectively using agricultural machines like Happy Seeder, Rotavator, Zero-till Seed Drill, Baler, Paddy Straw Chopper, Reaper Binder etc. Cutting the long stubbles in the field and allowing them to mulch leads to increase the organic carbon and soil health apart from reducing the fertiliser expenses for the next cropping cycle which helps the agriculture being sustainable. Some states incentivised purchase of CRM machines by giving subsidy to the tune of 50 to 80 per cent of the cost. During current year both Punjab and Haryana state have provided hefty incentives to farmers for off-site measures towards transportation cost and also tied up them with Ethanol plant of Indian Oil Corporation. During current year till mid-October, the stubble burning has reduced considerably. Since the cropping season is delayed up to late November, the final report is yet to come. All such efforts by Government with a participatory approach by making people aware, providing subsidies for purchase of CRM machines, linking farmers with processing facilities and provisioning penalty for erratic farmers (those burning the stubble in field) has been gradually seen effective.
Despite of all these initiatives, there is doubt about sustainability on the effect of such policy initiatives. States of Punjab and Haryana may not provide such huge subsidy in long-term considering their financial affordability. Imposing heavy penalty for stubble burning is being opposed strongly by the farm lobbies. Because of huge subsidy on purchase of farm machineries, manufacturers are exploiting farmers by increasing the prices of such machineries for which farmers are now demanding for direct cash transfer to their account.
States in eastern and southern India have no stubble burning problem as they are growing short duration paddy producing low quantum of left out straw (stubble). Diversification of water intensive crops like paddy to other crops requiring less water is not yet picking up in northern states to satisfactory level. Northern states should promote short duration paddy varieties like PR 126 instead of PUSA 44 being grown now which generates two tonnes of excess straw per hectare. At present PR 126 variety covers only 38 per cent area in Punjab. PUSA 44 is still more attractive to farmers because of procurement policy of the state. Agri market reforms are required which is being delayed due to possible middlemen lobbies.
A systematic approach is necessary to improve the air quality in Delhi and surrounding area with coordinated effort by Punjab and Haryana states together. The myth of farmers about fear of paste attack and low yield due to use of machineries for mulching, need to be removed through coordinated effort and public awareness. Inefficient and opaque rental system of these machines creates huge problem for farmers and the respective agriculture department should take appropriate steps to reform the operational system of Custom Hiring Centres. There is also a need to expand the supply chain system for integrating crop residues to processing centres and the market. It is hoped that a collaborative effort among all stakeholders will reduce the problem faced by farmers and will improve the environment by bringing cleaner air for both states, national capital territory and adjoining areas.
