Why Stubble Burning Persists

Context

Stubble burning continues due to the prevailing paddy wheat cropping system, assured procurement, groundwater regulations, and the limited time available for sowing wheat. The problem cannot be attributed solely to a lack of awareness or machinery among farmers.

Key Highlights

• Crop Residue Generation: Punjab and Haryana collectively generate around 29 million tonnes of paddy straw.
• Groundwater Regulation: The Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009, delayed paddy transplantation to conserve groundwater. This shifted harvesting to a later period, reducing the wheat sowing window to approximately 10 to 15 days.
• Procurement and Power Subsidies: Assured procurement of paddy and inexpensive electricity discourage farmers from shifting towards less water intensive crops.
• Cost of Residue Management: Super Seeders and other crop residue management machines involve purchase or rental expenses, fuel costs, and scheduling difficulties. These challenges are particularly significant for small farmers.
• Different State Approaches: Punjab has focused more on machinery based residue management, whereas Haryana has relied more extensively on financial incentives and crop diversification.
• Limitations of Satellite Monitoring: Satellite based fire counts may underestimate or incorrectly classify burning incidents. Improved measurement is necessary to assess the effectiveness of control measures.

Key Concepts

• In-Situ Management: Managing crop residue within the agricultural field by treating or incorporating it into the soil.
• Ex Situ Management: Removing crop residue from fields for alternative uses, such as compressed biogas, pellets, power generation, and industrial feedstock.
• Temperature Inversion: An atmospheric condition in which a layer of warm air traps cooler air and pollutants close to the Earth’s surface.
• CAQM: The Commission for Air Quality Management, a statutory body responsible for air quality management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.

Way Forward

• Crop Diversification: Align agricultural procurement policies with the promotion of alternative crops to reduce dependence on the paddy wheat cycle.
• Financial Incentives: Provide payments to farmers for verified non burning of crop residue.
• Machinery Access: Expand custom hiring centres to make crop residue management equipment more accessible and affordable.
• Residue Markets: Develop reliable markets for crop residue to encourage its productive utilisation.
• Industrial Linkages: Ensure reliable offtake of agricultural residue by compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
• Improved Monitoring: Combine satellite based fire detection with ground level verification for more accurate assessment of stubble burning incidents.