Stubble Burning
About:
- It is a deliberate act to burn straw stubble, which is what is left over after grains like wheat and rice have been harvested.
- The practise was widely used up until the 1990s, but after that point, governments started outlawing it more and more.
- Stubble burning has long been a substantial cause of air pollution in Northern India, despite numerous attempts to halt it.
- Every year, as winter approaches, Delhi has its highest levels of air pollution, with the air quality index (AQI) frequently falling into the “severe” and “hazardous” categories.
Effects of Burning Stubble:
- In northern India, burning manure has long been a significant source of air pollution.
- People are more prone to infection and have a harder time recovering from illness when there is pollution around.
- Husk burning reduces the soil’s ability to produce by destroying its nutrients.
- The soil loses moisture and beneficial bacteria as a result of the heat created when the stubble is burned.
Alternatives to Burning Stubble:
- One such technique is to clear the area of stubble before scattering seeds there using a Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) device. The field can then be mulched using the leftover stubble.
- Another option is the Pusa bio-decomposer, which was created by researchers at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. The rapid decomposition process results in the conversion of crop waste into manure in 15 to 20 days.
- If farmers are given the tools they need to add the stubble back into the soil, they won’t have to burn it.
- Ex-situ treatment: As part of this, some businesses have begun gathering stubble for their needs, although more work has to be done in this area.
- Changes to the cropping pattern are the more extensive and fundamental course of action.
- Paddy, which is the primary cause of stubble burning, should be substituted with other crops in order to achieve the goal of subsidies. Farmers in the area should be encouraged to grow more fruits and vegetables by using financial and governmental incentives.
Way Ahead:
- If small and marginal farmers want to mulch their straw into the soil as opposed to burning it, they must use in-situ agricultural techniques.
- Due to the socioeconomic climate, it is impossible to put a halt to stubble burning through taxation. We must concentrate on finding alternatives.
