Stubble Burning in India

19-Sep-2025

Stubble Burning in India

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Why in News?

To tackle Delhi's pollution, the SC directed Punjab, Haryana & UP to fill State Pollution Control Board vacancies in 3 months and urged the Union Govt to penalize stubble burning.

Stubble Burning

The practice of burning leftover straw after harvesting crops like paddy & wheat, b/w late Sept and early Nov.

Reasons:
- Mono-Cropping: MSP system favors wheat & rice, which leads farmers to burn crop residues to prepare fields quickly.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Cheaper than other disposal methods like shredders or balers.
- Weed Management: Fire eliminates weeds & seeds, reducing herbicide use.
- Limited Options: Lack of infrastructure & awareness of alternatives like composting or bioenergy.
- Climate Impact: Erratic monsoons & rising temperatures delay harvests, pushing farmers to burn stubble.
Impacts: Releases pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NOx, methane, CO, VOCs), contributes to GHG emissions, and depletes soil nutrients, moisture & microbes.

Challenges in Controlling Stubble Burning

Way Forward

Combine harvesters leave 10-15 cm of stubble, difficult to manage without specialized equipment; CHCs lack machinery.
Unclear definitions of stubble burning, environmental compensation & confusing compliance rules burden farmers.
Limited subsidies for machinery & weak frameworks for environmental compensation funds hinder implementation.
Lack of training on sustainable alternatives leads to reliance on traditional practices.

Implement crop mapping, build storage, support supply chains, use Microbe Pusa & Happy Seeder; promote short-duration paddy varieties; convert stubble to fodder/manure/biofuel.
Propose MSP for paddy residue to reduce stubble burning, recommended by Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
Provide guaranteed prices for stubble, set annual benchmark prices, and ensure returns cover costs.
Introduce MGNREGA-like programs for stubble harvesting, composting, & reward eco-friendly practices