• The Delhi government has imposed an immediate ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of all kinds of firecrackers across the city, effective until January 1.

• The ban, which applies to all forms of firecrackers, including those sold online, comes ahead of the winter pollution that worsens due to stubble burning, lower wind speeds, and other seasonal factors.

• A recent data compiled by CREAMS-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) shows that fire counts in Punjab have rapidly risen in the last week.

• The data was compiled using satellite-derived information to monitor stubble burning. A total of 872 fire counts were reported in the state from September 15 to October 13. 

• However, this represents a decline from 1,230 fires reported during the same period last year.

• The current number of fires is noted to be the lowest in five years, which suggests a positive trend in managing stubble burning compared to previous years.

• Despite the overall decline, there has been a sharp rise in fire counts, with 300 fires reported as of October 7. This increase over a short period indicates fluctuating patterns in stubble burning practices.

What is stubble burning?

• Stubble burning, or setting fire to crop residues after harvest, is a widespread practice across North West India, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

• It helps farmers clear their fields quickly to prepare for the next crop cycle, particularly between September and November when wheat is sown after the paddy harvest.

Effects of stubble burning:

• Air Pollution: Stubble burning releases a significant amount of toxic pollutants such as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These pollutants form a thick blanket of smog, causing serious respiratory issues and contributing to the degradation of air quality in urban and rural areas, particularly around Delhi.

• Impact on Soil Fertility: The burning process destroys essential nutrients in the soil, such as nitrogen and carbon. This leads to decreased soil fertility, which affects crop yields in subsequent planting seasons.

• Heat Penetration and Microbial Loss: The intense heat from burning penetrates the soil surface, resulting in the loss of moisture and destruction of beneficial soil microbes, which are crucial for nutrient cycling and maintaining soil health.

Alternatives to stubble burning:

• Technological Solutions: The Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) is an innovative machine that uproots stubble and simultaneously plants wheat seeds. It leaves the stubble on the surface as mulch, preventing the need for burning and improving soil moisture retention.

• Other Practices: Encouraging farmers to adopt techniques like zero-tillage farming, where crops are planted without clearing the previous crop residue.

• Conversion of stubble into biofuel or compost can provide economic returns to farmers while minimizing environmental harm.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)