Stubble Burning: Causes, Impacts & Alternatives
- Stubble burning in India, especially in North-West states, is a major contributor to seasonal air pollution. While legal deterrents are proposed, studies caution against penalising farmers without addressing structural constraints
What is Stubble Burning?
- Stubble (parali) burning refers to the deliberate setting of fire to crop residue (straw or stalks) left in the field after harvesting grains like paddy, wheat, etc., especially in areas using combined harvesting methods, which leave tall stalks that need removal before replanting.
- Commonly occurs between the last week of September and November in the Indo-Gangetic plains (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh) – right after the paddy harvest and before wheat sowing.
- The rice stubble burning is highest in the state of Punjab, followed by Haryana, whereas Uttar Pradesh ranks higher in wheat stubble burning.
Why Stubble Burning has Become Popular?
- Quick field clearance: Short time available between rice harvesting and sowing of wheat, which affects the wheat crop. Stubble burning is a quick and low-cost method for disposing of paddy stubble.
- Cost constraints: Many farmers cannot afford machinery or there is inadequate availability of machines for crop residue management.
- Unsuitability of residue for other uses: Some crop residues (like certain varieties of paddy straw) are low in fodder quality or difficult to use, hence less incentive to collect or use.
Effects of Stubble Burning
- Pollution: Burning emits large amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. These pollutants react in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutants like ozone and contribute to the formation of smog.
- Soil degradation: Loss of soil nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium etc.), destruction of beneficial micro-organisms; loss of soil organic matter.
- Heat penetration: Stubble burning generates heat that penetrates into the soil, causing an increase in erosion, loss of useful microbes and moisture.
Steps Taken by Government to Curb Stubble Burning
- Legal Framework: The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986, empower action against stubble burning.
- Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) monitors and coordinates stubble burning control in Delhi-NCR states.
- Residue Management: Farmers receive subsidised machines, Custom Hiring Centres, and PUSA bio-decomposers for in-situ use, while ex-situ channels use paddy straw in biomass power, ethanol, biogas, and packaging.
- Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme to provide Happy Seeders, Super Straw Management Systems, and other in-situ residue management machines.
- Financial Assistance: The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) extends subsidies for Crop Residue Management machinery procurement to small and marginal farmers.
- Haryana govt. is offering ₹1,200 per acre to farmers who adopt sustainable stubble management practices and refrain from burning crop residue.
Alternatives to Stubble Burning
- Cattle fodder: Agricultural leftovers can be processed into digestible pellets for animal consumption. Though rice straw’s high silica content makes it less ideal, it is a common feed source in Southern India, where other options are limited.
- Composting: Crop residue can be converted into nutrient-rich compost to enhance soil productivity. Methods like vermicomposting or using the ‘Pusa decomposer‘ create natural fertilisers that improve soil health and reduce the need for chemical alternatives.
- Bran Oil and Ethanol Production: Rice straw and bran are used for producing edible rice bran oil and bioethanol, providing renewable fuel, improving rural incomes, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Biogas Production: Straw can be chopped and placed in digesters to produce biogas, an energy source for cooking, heating, or electricity. The leftover material (digestate) serves as a high-quality organic fertiliser for crops.
- Paper and Handicraft Making: Paddy and wheat straw are valuable raw materials for making paper, temporary utensils, and decorative items. Utilising straw for paper production helps reduce deforestation caused by the paper industry.
- Power Generation: Crop residue can be converted into biomass pellets and used in power plants to generate electricity.
Structural Constraints Behind Stubble Burning in India
- Land Fragmentation: 85% of farmers have less than 2 ha land, limiting mechanisation and residue management efficiency (Agricultural Census).
- Economic Pressure: Hiring Happy Seeders costs ₹4,500–5,000/acre, unaffordable for most smallholders.
- Crop Timing: 15–20 day window between paddy harvest and wheat sowing leaves insufficient time for residue management.
- Infrastructure Gap: 20–50 km distance to biomass plants makes transport & storage unviable.
- Policy Vacuum: Fragmented bioenergy-agriculture policies prevent integration of residue into biogas, bioethanol, paper, or compost industries
Way Forward
- Introduce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy residue, announced well ahead of the Kharif season, so farmers are assured guaranteed returns for selling their straw instead of burning it.
- Set up interim storage facilities in districts, especially where industries or end-users are not nearby (20-50 km range), to reduce transport and handling barriers.
- Incentivise short-duration/early-maturing paddy varieties so that farmers get enough time to clear fields and sow the next crop without resorting to burning.
- Formulate a unified national bioenergy policy, coordinating ministries (agriculture, renewable energy, petroleum, health, environment) to integrate crop residue into bioethanol, biogas, pellets etc.
- Develop technology that combines the work of both harvesters and cutters to completely clear stubble from fields, reducing the need for burning.
Introducing MSP for paddy residue, improving storage, and supporting alternative uses—like Chhattisgarh’s Gauthans model can discourage stubble burning. Coordinated policies, technology adoption, and incentives will reduce air pollution and promote sustainable, circular farming practices.
Reference: Indian Express
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 357
Q. The persistence of stubble burning despite government intervention reflects deep structural constraints in Indian agriculture. Examine these constraints and propose a multi-pronged strategy for resolution. (150 Words) (10 Marks)
Approach
- Introduction: Write a contextual introduction about stubble burning by mentioning the current data.
- Body: Write structural constraints in Indian agriculture and propose a multi-pronged strategy.
- Conclusion: Emphasis on a multi-pronged approach for sustainable agriculture and cleaner air.
