Stubble Burning, Causes and Impact

The Supreme Court slammed Haryana and Punjab for their “defiant attitude” against taking penal action on persons burning crop residue ahead of the winter season and aggravating air pollution across north India, especially in and around the national capital.

What is Meant by Stubble Burning?

• Stubble (parali) burning is a method of removing paddy crop residues from the field by setting the straw stubble fire to sow wheat from the last week of September to November.
• Paddy stubble burning is most prevalent in the Indo-Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

 Why is Stubble Burning Practised?

• It is done mainly to prepare the land quickly for the rabi crop (such as wheat), as the time window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing is very short, typically around 2 to 3 weeks.
• Punjab has the highest incidence of paddy stubble burning, followed by Haryana, while Uttar Pradesh leads in wheat stubble burning.
• Farmers find it the cheapest method to clean fields after harvesting.

Impact of Stubble Burning

• Air Pollution: It is a major cause of air pollution in North India, especially in Delhi and surrounding regions.
  • It contributes to the deterioration of the Air Quality Index (AQI) due to the release of harmful pollutants like:
    • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
    • Methane (CH₄)
    • Carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
    • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
  • These pollutants disperse in the atmosphere that forming thick blankets of smog, which severely affects air quality and public health.
  • Example: Punjab and Haryana are responsible for up to 40% of the pollutant load in Delhi during the peak season.
• Soil Fertility: Burning stubble destroys essential soil nutrients, making the soil less fertile.
  • It also leads to the loss of useful microbes that contribute to soil health.
• Heat Penetration: The intense heat generated during stubble burning penetrates the soil, causing erosion, loss of moisture, and degradation of soil quality.

Causes Behind Stubble Burning And Its Persistence

• Awareness programs designed to engage residents in addressing the public health crisis face delays.
• Many crop residue management machines are often unavailable when needed by farmers.
• There is no efficient system for transporting straw from fields to power plants.
• The pollution crisis is complex and requires sustained efforts for gradual improvement.
• The Union government’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has not been effective as a mediator.
• Traditional belief (burning crop residue will restore nutrients back to the soil) of the farmers is prevalent.

Initiatives to Reduce Stubble Burning

• The State Governments of Punjab, National Capital Region (NCR) States and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) have developed detailed monitorable action plans based on the framework by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to tackle the problem of air pollution.
• The Punjab government has proposed a cash incentive of ₹2,500 per acre to farmers who refrain from burning paddy straw.

Way Forward

• Subsidising Equipment: Under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme, baler machines are offered at subsidised rates.
• Facilitating Loans: With the growing industrial demand for crop residue as a raw material for fodder, ethanol production, and use in thermal plants, providing easily accessible loans for purchasing balers could be beneficial.
• Adopting Enhanced Crop Varieties: Utilising improved seed varieties, especially those of short-duration rice and wheat, can be beneficial.
  • Example: varieties like Pusa Basmati-1509 and PR-126 not only mature rapidly but also enhance soil quality.
• Implementing Bio-Waste Decomposition: Agricultural microorganisms in bio-waste decomposers enhance the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR).
  • Example: Pusa-Bio Decomposer a fungi-based liquid solution that can soften hard stubble to the extent that it can be easily mixed with soil in the field to act as compost.

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