The Agriculture Department, which has been tasked with curbing stubble burning in the district, is facing acute staff shortage. “Against the sanctioned
strength of 35 posts of Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) in the district, it has no ADO deputed at present. Besides, all sanctioned five posts of Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) or Quality Control Inspector (QCI), four posts of Block Agriculture Officer (BAO), three posts of Technical Assistants, three posts of Statistical Assistant and one post of Assistant Statistical Officer (ASO) have been lying vacant for the past two to three years. The department is depending on 20 non-technical persons, appointed as supervisors on DC rate recently, for routine work, it is learnt.

This has resulted in hurdles in carrying out any specific duty or the present drive of curbing stubble burning incidents in the region.
Meanwhile, with 10 incidents of stubble burning reported so far and as many as nine farmers fined amounts ranging from Rs 2,500 and Rs 15,000 on Friday by the district administration for burning paddy stubble, the District Administration has written to all the sarpanches, village panchayats and numberdars to ensure that no stubble burning incidents take place in the district. Regarding the shortage of staff in the Agriculture Department, the DC said that 20 Supervisors appointed on contract basis have been assigned the job with direct assistance from the panchayats for the drive. “The problem of burning stubble is from an area covering 2,000 acres falling in 20 villages only.

Stubble Burning

Context:

• Through the various efforts under the Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the State of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & NCT of Delhi’ the paddy residue burning events have reduced by 15% and 41% in 2018 as compared to that in 2017 and 2016, respectively in all these States as per the satellite data.
• More than 4500 villages in Punjab and Haryana have been declared as Zero Stubble Burning Villages during 2018 as not a single crop burning incident was reported from these villages during the year.

• Stubble burning is a common practice followed by farmers to prepare fields for sowing of wheat in November as there is little time left between the harvesting of paddy and sowing of wheat. 
• Stubble burning results in emission of harmful gases such carbon diaoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide along with particulate matter.

Concern of the Farmers: Why they opt for stubble burning?

• Even though farmers are aware that the burning of straw is harmful to health, they do not have alternatives for utilising them effectively.
• The farmers are ill-equipped to deal with waste because they cannot afford the new technologythat is available to handle the waste material.
• Experts say that with less income due to crop damage, farmers are likely to be inclined to light up their fields to cut costs and not spend on scientific ways of stubble management.

Advantages of stubble burning:

• It quickly clears the field and is the cheapest alternative.
• Kills weeds, including those resistant to herbicide.
• Kills slugs and other pests.
• Can reduce nitrogen tie-up.
   

What’s the issue?

• Stubble burning is adversely affecting environment and public health. The problem has not been fully tackled and the adverse impacts on the air quality and consequent impacts on the citizens’ health and lives are undisputed.

Alternative solutions that can avoid Stubble Burning:

• There is great potential for making investments in paddy straw-based power plants which can help avoid stubble burning to a large extent and also create employment opportunities.
• Incorporation of crop residues in the soil can improve soil moisture and help activate the growth of soil microorganisms for better plant growth.
• Convert the removed residues into enriched organic manure through composting.
• New opportunities for industrial use such as extraction of yeast protein can be explored through scientific research.
   

Need of the hour:

• Unless Financial assistance is to be provided by the Centre for boosting farm mechanisation, it is difficult to completely stop stubble burning.
• States needs to make alternative arrangements for consumption of paddy straw into the soil as per the directions of the NGT.

What needs to be done- Supreme Court’s observations?

• The problem is required to be resolved by taking all such measures as are possible in the interest of public health and environment protection.
• Incentives could be provided to those who are not burning the stubble and disincentives for those who continue the practice.
• The existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) Scheme must be so interpreted as to enable the States concerned to wholly or partly deny the benefit of MSP to those who continue to burn the crop residue.
• Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has also been directed to be present to “find a lasting solution.”
• The Central government should convene a meeting with the States.