A district administration ban, and fears of fines, on stubble burning in rural areas due to rising Air Quality Index (AQI) levels has not gone down well with farmers, who are now urging the government to find a middle path without compromising the interests of stakeholders.
Devendra Singh, District Secretary of the Bhopal Farmers' Union and a farmer from Sagoni Kalan village, stated, “We have no alternatives. Pollution is caused by industrial and urban areas due to vehicles and factories. The administration is acting with bias. If farmers are fined for stubble burning, we will launch a large-scale protest.”
He further stated that it takes at least three months for stubble (crop residue) to decompose naturally, during which farmers cannot leave their fields empty. The administration suggests the use of rotavators and happy seeders, which chop the stubble into fine pieces, but these hinder proper seed germination, causing losses for farmers.
Mahendra Singh Dangi of Berasia, who has been farming for generations, said, “Burning stubble turns it into ash, which mixes well with the soil and does not harm the next crop. When rotavators are used, the fine stubble becomes susceptible to fungus, which damages the crop.”
Lokesh, a resident of Bhainsoda village, said, “Pollution in cities increases due to vehicles, yet farmers are penalised for it. If the administration wants to lower AQI, they should implement measures like Delhi’s odd-even formula or address emissions from vehicles and factories.
Pollution and AQI will reduce across the board.”Deepak Rajput from Sonkakatch village added, “After burning stubble, the field needs to be tilled only twice, or at most three times, which is cheaper than using a rotavator.
In these times of rising costs, farmers are already struggling. What are we supposed to do?”Bhupendra Rajput from Rujgaon laments, “Not every farmer can afford a rotavator. We already struggle with a lack of fertiliser, and the cost of equipment like rotavators is another burden. There’s no clear solution in sight.”
Meanwhile, Suman Prasad, Deputy Agriculture Director for Bhopal district, reiterated, “Using rotavators and seeders reduces farmers’ costs and saves time.
After stubble burning, fields need to be tilled at least four times to prepare for sowing, which increases expenses. ”Agricultural scientists from the Jabalpur-based BISA Research Institute say that farmers are being encouraged to use rotavators and happy seeders after adequate research. They emphasised, “Farmers are initially resistant to new technology, but over time, they will adapt.”
With both administrative officials and farmers sticking to their stances, and AQI levels threatening to surge, it may be time for the government to step in with village-level counselling sessions and training to address the issue that could snowball into a major controversy in years to come.
