The Centre and Punjab government are making concerted efforts to ensure the availability of sufficient machinery to address the issue of stubble burning, a main contributor to air pollution in the National Capital Region.
Understanding Stubble Burning
Stubble burning is the act of setting fire to crop residue to clear the field for the next crop. This practice is common in areas where combine harvesting methods are used. Combine harvesters are multipurpose machines that harvest, thresh (separate the grain), and clean the separated grain simultaneously. However, these machines do not cut close to the ground, leaving behind stubble that holds no value for farmers. With the pressure to timely sow the next crop for a optimal yield, farmers often resort to the rapid and inexpensive method of stubble burning to clear their fields.
The Rationale Behind Stubble Burning
Despite governmental discouragement, farmers tend to prefer stubble burning as it is an economical choice. The lack of financial opportunities and technological advancements to opt for alternatives to stubble burning, such as ploughing or repurposing the stubble, contributes to the persistence of this practice. Uprooting the stubble, cutting, burying, and watering it requires two days, and an additional 45 days for it to turn into manure. In comparison, setting fire to the stubble is practically costless, thus making it the preferred method during the crucial period of sowing the next crop (Rabi crop) due in November-end.
Consequences of Stubble Burning
Stubble burning prevalent in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana results in a dense smog cover over Delhi during winters, posing serious health risks. Open stubble burning discharges large quantities of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere including Methane (CH4), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Once released, these pollutants disperse, undergo physical and chemical transformations, and ultimately pose serious threats to human health. Furthermore, stubble burning degrades soil fertility by killing the nutrients and natural bacteria that rejuvenate the soil.
Alternatives to Stubble Burning
The Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) is currently the most efficient technology available to counter crop burning. THS, a machine mounted on a tractor, not only cuts and uproots the stubble but also drills wheat seeds into the cleared soil. Simultaneously, it disperses straw over the sown seeds to form a protective mulch cover. Other alternatives include converting stubble into energy, decomposing stubble into manure, using stubble as livestock feed, setting up biomass fuel plants for paddy husk conversion, and encouraging industries to proficiently utilize stubble.
Government Initiatives
In November 2015, the National Green Tribunal directed authorities in Delhi and neighbouring states to cease the practice of stubble burning. Despite limited success, in March, the Centre approved a Rs 1,151-crore scheme to promote in situ management of crop residue by supplying subsidized THS machines. Under this scheme, qualified applicants are required to deposit the subsidized amount with the agriculture department. Moreover, Punjab has planned 30 paddy stubble-based power plants, primarily in paddy-growing regions, which would consume 44 lakh tonnes of paddy stubble.
Challenges
Despite setting a target of delivering 25,000 THS machines, the Punjab government has only successfully delivered around 500 machines to end-users who have paid the applicable subsidized rates. The slow pace of delivery is attributed to buyers, especially farmers, not depositing the subsidized price money, causing manufacturers to face difficulties in meeting the set deadlines.
A Path Forward
Timely implementation of government schemes supplying subsidized THS machines can significantly help mitigate the issue of stubble burning. In addition, governments must adopt a dual approach of providing incentives to farmers employing eco-friendly methods and levying penalties on those who do not. Haryana has already started implementing this strategy in its efforts to deal with the problem.
