Punjab Government to provide Rs300 crore aid to tackle stubble-burning

In order to restrain farmers from burning crop residue, the state government has decided to provide subsidy worth Rs 300 crore (ranging from 50 per cent to 80 per cent) to agriculturists for purchasing 23,500 agro-machines/farm equipment for the management of stubble during the 2020 kharif season.

Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Anirudh Tiwari said the state government has invited applications from farmers to provide subsidy for purchasing paddy residue management machines.

Machines would be given to 7,000 farmers, 5,000 cooperative societies, panchayats and farmers groups to make “Punjab clean, green and pollution free”. Subsidy to individual farmers would be given at the rate of 50 per cent of cost of the machine and the same would be 80 per cent in case of societies and farmer groups.

What is stubble burning?

It 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.

Impact: Stubble burning results in emission of harmful gases such carbon diaoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide along with particulate matter.

Why farmers opt for stubble burning?

They do not have alternatives for utilising them effectively.
The farmers are ill-equipped to deal with waste because they cannot afford the new technology that is available to handle the waste material.
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.

Effects of Stubble Burning:

Pollution: Open stubble burning emits large amounts of toxic pollutants in the atmosphere which contain harmful gases like methane (CH4), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Volatile organic compound (VOC) and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They may eventually cause smog.

Soil Fertility: Burning husk on ground destroys the nutrients in the soil, making it less fertile.

Heat Penetration: Heat generated by stubble burning penetrates into the soil, leading to the loss of moisture and useful microbes.

Alternative solutions that can avoid Stubble Burning:

Promote paddy straw-based power plants. It will 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.