Stubble Burning Issue: Two extended spells of rain — in late September and October — have delayed paddy harvesting by every week in elements of Punjab and Haryana which may result in a spike in stubble burning incidents, specialists mentioned on Wednesday.
They mentioned the delay may end in farmers racing in opposition to time to arrange their fields for the subsequent crop and therefore, a pointy enhance in farm fires was potential.
Though the Centre and the Punjab authorities have made critical interventions to scale back the quantity of farm fires this 12 months, officers mentioned the shortening of the window for sowing of Rabi crops may imply extra stubble burning within the days to return.
Along with unfavourable meteorological circumstances, paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is a significant cause behind the alarming spike in air air pollution ranges within the nationwide capital in October and November.
Farmers set their fields on hearth to rapidly clear off the crop residue earlier than cultivating wheat and potato.
The rains from September 21 to September 25 delayed harvesting in areas like Amritsar and Tarn Taran, the place farmers develop potato, peas and different greens.
The newest spell of rain — from October 5 to October 11 — delayed harvesting of paddy in additional elements of Punjab and Haryana.
“The delay in paddy harvesting on account of rains may result in clustering of stubble burning incidents in a decent timeframe.
It can be potential that it may enhance the quantity of farm fires,” mentioned Vinay Sehgal, principal scientist at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
Sehgal mentioned most stubble burning incidents happen after October 15, and the federal government nonetheless has time to sensitise farmers.
Dr Mahesh Narang, head of the farm engineering division on the Punjab Agricultural University, mentioned the rains delayed paddy harvesting by round every week in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and different districts the place farmers harvest their paddy earlier than October 15 to develop potato and different greens.
“The delay in paddy harvesting has further shortened the window to prepare fields for the next crop. So, there is a high probability these farmers may burn the paddy straw instead of managing it through machinery,” he mentioned.
Stubble burning begins round September 20 however the quantity of hearth occasions stays low until October 12-14.
The two extended spells of rain suppressed farm fires in Punjab and Haryana and stored air air pollution in examine within the Delhi-NCR.
According to knowledge from the ‘Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space’, 9 residue burning occasions came about on October 8, three on October 9 and 4 on October 10.
The quantity of farm fires elevated to 45 on October 11 and 104 on October 12 as clouds over Punjab and Haryana dissipated.
The specialists say the farmers’ protests in 2020 and the meeting elections final 12 months had been main causes behind the spike in farm fires within the state.
The Punjab authorities has distributed 56,000 extra machines at subsidised charges for in-situ administration of stubble this season.
A complete of 90,422 machines have already been supplied since 2018. The PAU professor mentioned a clearer image would emerge round October 20.
“A spike in stubble burning is also possible around Diwali.” Last 12 months, three elements mixed to trigger hazardous air high quality within the Delhi-NCR — farm fires, firecrackers and unfavourable meteorology.
Diwali is on October 24 this 12 months. According to the IARI, Punjab had reported 71,304 farm fires between September 15 and November 30 final 12 months and 83,002 farm fires within the corresponding interval in 2020.
Last 12 months, the share of farm fires in Delhi’s PM 2. 5 air pollution had peaked to 48 per cent on November 7.
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