The farming season in North India, which stretches from September to November 2023, witnessed a staggering 55,725 instances of agricultural field fires across six states. This data was obtained through satellite surveillance as a part of standardized monitoring protocols.
Understanding Farm Fires
Farm fires refer to intentional and accidental fires set on agricultural fields. Farmers deliberately initiate these fires after the harvest season as a cost-effective and time-saving method to clear crop residue, especially in regions where stubble burning is common practice. These fires typically involve the burning of straw, stubble, or crop residues, making way for the next planting season. Despite their benefits, farm fires have been known to significantly contribute to air pollution through the emission of smoke, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases.
Data Collection of Farm Fires
Data on farm fires is collected by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute’s (IARI) Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) Laboratory. Established in 2013, the laboratory has been issuing daily reports on paddy residue fires. These reports detail incidents across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi, offering insight into the number of fires, their locations, intensity, and the satellites used to collect this data.
Satellites in Data Collection
Three NASA satellites equipped with specialized sensors, including the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi NPP satellite and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard Terra and Aqua satellites, make two passes over the Indian subcontinent every 24 hours to record land surface temperatures. In recent years, the Sentinel-2 satellites, part of the European Space Agency, have been used to map burned areas.
Standardized Monitoring Protocol
To ensure year-round monitoring of farm fires, IARI acquires satellite data from its ground station and the National Remote Sensing Centre. Prior to 2021, inconsistencies in methodologies led to discrepancies in recorded farm fire data across different monitoring centers. However, in 2021, the Commission for Air Quality Management implemented a standardized protocol, leveling the playing field.
Identifying Paddy Fires
Paddy fires are distinguished from forest fires or industrial-originating fires by identifying paddy cultivation areas and mapping farm fires accordingly. Paddy cultivation exhibits a distinct reflectance signature over time due to its typical background of water, unlike crops like sugarcane or maize. A spike in land surface temperature aids satellites in detecting active paddy fires.
Limitations and Challenges of Fire Data Collection
Data collection comes with its own set of challenges. Climatic conditions such as cloud cover and atmospheric water vapor can obstruct satellite data acquisition. With the variability in day and night conditions and change in seasons, maintaining consistent fire detection thresholds is another challenge.
Innovative Techniques for Crop-Residue Management
The agricultural sector has implemented innovative techniques for crop-residue management to curb the issue of farm fires. These include the use of Baler Machines, Happy Seeder, and Bio-enzyme PUSA. These techniques offer more environmentally friendly solutions, reducing the need for burning and thus mitigating air pollution.
The effective management of farm fires necessitates a thorough understanding of data collection complexities and limitations. As technology continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to monitoring and addressing these fires with a view to protecting both the environment and public health.
