Stubble Burning

As soon as the winter season starts in India, the term 'Stubble Burning' starts becoming the headline of newspapers every year as one of the major causes of winter pollution in northern India, particularly, in Delhi and the adjoining areas.

What is Stubble Burning?

Stubble burning is the practice of intentionally setting fire to straw stubble that remains after grains, such as rice and wheat have been harvested to remove them from the field in order to sow the next crop.

• In Punjab and Haryana, farmers burn stubble (rice chaff) left after the rice harvest so that they can harvest the next Rabi (winter) crop like wheat. 

• This process begins around October. It is the same time when the southwest monsoon wind withdraws.

• According to Indian Penal Code (IPC), section 188 makes stubble burning a crime in India.

•The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 also notifies stubble burning as an offence.

• But, still the practice of stubble burning has not been stopped yet. 

What forces farmers to burn stubble? 

• The Punjab Preservation of subsoil Water Act (2009) made it mandatory for farmers to transplant paddy late the Kharif season to prevent loss of water.

• So, the farmers get very less time between harvesting the rice crop and preparing the field for the next winter crop.

• Stubble burnig is the cheapest and quickest way to do this.

• Due to increased modernization and mechanisation of agriculture, farmers extract only the rice grains from top of the crop leaving behind the bottom part which becomes the residue.

• To decrease the quantity of residue, manual harvesting (can cut harvest crop from bottom also) is a solution, but the cost of labour is not affordable for many farmers.

• The tractor mounted 'Happy Seeders' is also available by the Punjab Government to cut down the rice stubble and sow wheat seeds simultaneously. But the price of the machines or its rents is very high for farmers.

• Farmers have to spend Rs.1000 per acre of land as machine rent and Rs.2000 for diesel.

• But on the other hand, matchbox to burn the stubble costs only Rs.2.

Few Advantages Of Stubble Burning:

• Cheapest and quickest way.

• Destroys weeds including those that are resistant to herbicides.

• Kills other pests also.

Disadvantages Of Stubble Burning:

• It contributes to a lot of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of sulphur, etc.

• Particularly in Delhi 40% of the near-surface PM (particulate matter) is caused due to stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana.

• It also decreases the soil fertility by destroying soil nutrients. This is because the heat generated during the burning kills the bacteria and fungal population which are crucial for fertile soil. 

Is There Any Solution For This Problem?

• The answer is YES.

• The governments of Haryana, Punjab and UP were directed by the Supreme Court in 2019 to pay farmers a financial incentive to curb stubble burning.

• 8000 nodal officers were appointed by gov. of Punjab in 2020 to keep a check on stubble burning.

• The 'Happy Seeders' machines should be developed in such a way so that minimal residue is left behind.

• The Indian Agriculture Research Institute has devised a radical solution for stubble in the form of a Bio-Enzyme called PUSA.

• When sprayed, this enzyme can decompose the stubble in 20-25 days, turning it into manure, adding ferlility to the soil.

• Use of rice straw as cattle fodder, roofing in rural areas, compost manure, packing material, bio-ethanol and industrial production, etc.

I hope this was helpful for you.

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!