In Haryana and Punjab, almost 4500 villages have been designated as “Zero Stubble Burning Villages.” The reduction in crop stubble burning can be linked to the Central Sector Scheme on Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Crop Residue Burning Incidents Have Decreased-

Crop residue burning has decreased by 40-45% in Haryana, 25% in western Uttar Pradesh, and 14-15% in Punjab after farmers began using the happy seeder machine, which allows them to earn more while simultaneously lowering air pollution.

In Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, 4,500 villages (encompassing 8 lakh hectares) have been proclaimed ‘zero stubble burning’ for the year because no crop burning incidents were reported from these villages.

There was no crop burning in these villages in 2018, as there was not a single incidence documented during the year Farmers moved to a happy seeder machine, which allows them to produce more money while simultaneously lowering pollution.

Environmental Effects of Stubble Burning-

During the burning process, a considerable amount of harmful pollutants such as methane, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are released, resulting in the creation of smog. Smog also increases air pollution in adjacent cities, wreaking havoc on the air quality index, obstructing atmospheric visibility, and exacerbating the causes of climate change.

Soil Fertility –

Stubble burning depletes the soil’s current minerals, making it difficult to cultivate the following crop. Burning has the effect of removing a considerable part of the organic material from the field, making it less fruitful.

As a result of the loss of beneficial pests, the impact of detrimental pests increases, making crops more susceptible to disease. The solubility capacity of the soil’s higher layers is also severely diminished.

Burning also has a significant impact on other soil variables such as soil temperature, pH, moisture, and accessible phosphorus.

Human Health Effects-

Burning crops releases particulate matter (PM) 2.5, which can easily be transported away by the wind and cause a variety of health problems.

These particles are small enough to become trapped deep within the lungs, increasing lung cancer risk by 36%.

The fog and hazardous fumes produced by stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana turn Delhi and other Gangetic plains districts into a gas chamber.

When compared to individuals living in rural regions, children (under 5 years) and the elderly (over 59 years) in urban areas are at a higher risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) caused by crop burning.

Effect on the Economy-

Crop fires cost India $30 billion every year, according to a report released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in January 2019.

Initiatives by the Government to Reduce Stubble Burning-

Crop residue burning laws that are currently in effect include:

• Section 144 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) prohibits paddy burning.
• The 1986 Environmental Protection Act was enacted to protect the environment.
• 1995’s National Tribunal Act

Possible Stubble-Burning Substitutes-

• Subsidizing the rental of stubble collection machines
• To avoid stubble production, reasonable labour is provided to reap the paddy.
• Allowing animals to roam or feed on to remove husk and stubble
• In the agriculture field, decomposing stubble and turning it into usable manure
• Collecting stubble and turning it into cattle fodder
• Establishing biomass fuel facilities to generate electricity from rice husk.

Next Steps-

• Farmers continue to burn crop wastes despite the Indian government’s attempts due to a lack of simple and economical alternatives. As a result, educating the farming community and other relevant stakeholders is critical in breaking them out of their generational mindset that waste management is not their duty. It is much more critical to provide them with technical and socioeconomic support.
• The government must devise effective policy interventions, and agricultural cooperatives, farmer unions, and even individual farmers must work together to ensure that policies are implemented successfully, resulting in the country’s economic and environmental progress.

Conclusion-

In Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan, rice harvesting will be in full swing. There is a month-long window before wheat seeding is required. Farmers who cannot afford to hire extra labour or spend extra money to clear rice straw or stubble from their fields choose to burn it, resulting in high levels of air pollution in the region. It is a season when people are most affected by respiratory illnesses.