Key Issues around Stubble Management

Stubble is defined as the crop residue left in the field after harvest, including stem, leaf and glumes of cereals etc. To harvest a crop after its maturity combine harvesting method is employed. In this method, all processes like the cutting of the crop and separation of the grain etc. are done at once. It is important to note that the crop is cut not close enough to the ground, thereby, leaving the stubble behind. It becomes a problem when in the pressure to get the field ready for next sowing season; farmers burn the stubble on the field. While the wheat residue is used for animal feed, the paddy residue—rice straw—has no local economic uses and is ergonomically problematic.

Need to Manage Stubble Burning

Unlike in earlier conservation farming systems wherein retained stubble was mulched and slashed, now it is mostly burned by the farmers. This practice is most prevalent in Punjab and Haryana where every year, starting late-September and through October, farmers set their paddy fields on fire after harvesting. Burning of rice straw remains emits trace gases like carbon dioxide, meth ane, carbon monoxide, and large amount of particulate matters, which adversely affect human health as well as the environment. The problem has aggravated air pollution in Delhi and surrounding cities to alarming levels along with construction dusts and high traffic. The problem compounds with the onset of fog in winters in North India. This is because fog in combination with smoke forms smog which rests near the ground and cause various problems like breathing issues aggravating asthma, lack of visibility leading to high number of accidents on roads etc.

Nearly 120-130 million people affected in North India due to air pollution and its compounded disadvantages. Apart from pollution, burning can reduce soil quality and make land more susceptible to erosion. The problem has become grave because despite it being banned by state governments like Punjab Pollution Control Board and other penalty measures like imposing hefty penalty the farmers are still continuing with the practice.

Why the farmers burn the stubble instead of employing alternative methods?

• Most importantly pressure of preparing the field for the next cropping season makes burning the cheapest and quickest method.
• Alternative methods require additional investment in machinery, oil etc. which costs too much. This becomes more difficult for the farmers with marginal land holdings.
• There is very limited market connectivity of farmers for the selling of stubble.
• The farmers do not have the resources to send the load of stubble to the retail market.

What are the possible solutions for stubble management?

There can be in-situ incorporation of the stubble in the soil or its transportation for other uses. In situ in solutions will not only manage the stubble but will also add necessary organic matter and nutrients to the soil, thus, decreasing the requirement of fertilizers in it.

Providing a market to sell it

There is a need to provide economic value to the farmers for the paddy straw which will incentivize them to go for efficient management of the stubble. For instance- In most rice growing regions of Andhra, Tamil Nadu etc farmers sell paddy straw as a cattle feed, thus, providing them an additional source of income. Similarly in US and Europe, crop stubble is cut into bales, and is supplied to mushroom growers, livestock owners etc. Such options are needed to explore.

Value added products

Crop stubble can be reprocessed to create value added low-cost, eco-friendly wood products. Such innovative methods should be worked out wherein private sector and its expertise can also be roped in to create necessary infrastructure and transport links to connect the farms to retail markets. Another way is to find its use in biogas production or inviting packaging industries to collect stubble to make packaging boxes.

In Situ Solutions

• Waste decomposer: In this a solution is formed with microorganisms in it that that propel in-situ composting of the crop residue. However the process takes at least a month.
• Happy Seeder: It is a machine which is mounted on a tractor and can plant the wheat seed within the stubble of rice. It cuts and lift the rice straw, sows wheat into the bare soil, and deposits the straw over the sown area as mulch.  A lot of time is also saved as there is not requirement to clear the field.

Government initiatives

Most important cause of the burning of stubble on field is high economic costs to the farmers for its removal. So government efforts should primarily be focussed in this direction i.e. giving them a good economic value for straw or subsidy in availing machines. Small and marginal farmers can be provided reasonable labour to reap the paddy to avoid stubble generation or MGNREGA labour to clear the stubble.

Promote Research

Punjab is home to some of the biggest names in farm and farm equipment industry with an existing dealer network across the agricultural North India and a leading agricultural university, which create ripe conditions for public-private partnerships to not only educate the farmers but also provide solutions through technological and economic incentives.

Government efforts on this front?

Apart from generating awareness, one of the initiatives on technological front taken by Punjab government is   ‘Super Straw Management System (SMS)’. Super SMS would be attached in the rear of the combine harvester and it will cut the stubble into small pieces and spread evenly in the field after which farmers can sow the next season crop. It will not only help in getting rid from the problems of burning of stubble but will also add organic matter over time, retaining nutrients, water and replenishing soil structure. The Punjab government had even given Rs. 50,000 subsidy for fitting Super SMS with harvesters. The government has banned the burning of paddy residue in the fields and strict penalty is imposed on farmers practising it.