India: Stubble Burning Trending Down
Incidents of stubble burning in India decreased more than 34% to 37,602 from 57,242 in 2023
Government officials say that it is a result of efforts made by the administration towards the education of the farmers and also proper management of paddy straw
Farmers choose a time so they will not be detected by the satellites: media reports.
- The Supreme Court has asked for a report from air pollution watchdog CAQM.
- CREAMS, an Indian Agricultural Research Institute, reported 10,909 stubble burning incidents from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Standard Protocol for monitoring active fire events, as suggested by CAQM, is followed.
- The government is likely to continue monitoring in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh during the late planting period.
Stubble Burning
- Stubble burning is the practice of removing paddy crop residues from fields to sow wheat in the last week of September to November.
- It is common in areas that use the combined harvesting method, leaving crop residue behind.
- Stubble burning is prevalent in North West India in October and November mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- It releases a huge amount of toxic pollutants, which in turn affects human health as well as soil fertility.
- Heat from stubble burning goes to the depth of the soil that results in the loss of moisture and useful microbes.
- Alternatives to stubble burning are technology like the use of Turbo Happy Seeder machines, which can uproot the stubble and sow seeds in cleared areas.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has developed action plans to address the issues of air pollution.
- This calls for constructive use of stubble as animal feed, technology alternatives like Turbo-Happy Seeder Machine, and Bio-Decomposer.
- Even stubble can be turned into paper and cardboard and can be used as manure, charcoal gasification, power generation, and bio-ethanol.
