As Delhi's air pollution rises to alarming levels, the infamous 'paddy straw' burning by the farmers of Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab has aggravated the ever-deteriorating pollution level in the national Capital and its peripheral areas.
On Friday, the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) declared a public health emergency, following which the Delhi Government decided to shut all schools. The EPCA also banned construction activities in Delhi and its peripherals till November 5. The odd-even vehicle rationing scheme of Delhi Government will roll out from Monday.
The Pioneer carried out a fact check in the fields of Haryana to know the reasons behind paddy straw burning by the farmers year after year.
"Farmers prefer to burn stubble and pay penalty rather than weed out the stubbles. And the reason for this is that the cost of stubble burning is cheaper as penalty works out to be around Rs 2,500 per acre. But if they don't burn it then the stubble processing cost comes around Rs 6,000-7,000 per acre. The cost of stubble processing includes rent of machinery, diesel charge and labour charges. However, farmers contend that access to straw management equipment comes at a higher cost than environmental compensation. Straw management equipment is beyond the means of a small and marginal farmer", said a farmer in Kurukshetra but did not wish to be identified.
Moreover, the cost does not end at acquiring equipment only. Farmers say, running the equipment in the fields means spending additional money on diesel and labour. Hundreds of thousands of farmers in Haryana and Punjab, where much of the region's paddy is grown, set their rice fields on fire to clear left-over straw after harvesting paddy to make way for wheat.
According to farmers in Haryana, the rental cost of combine harvester is Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000 per acre which includes transportation charge. The cost of diesel is also borne by the farmer. Four to five litre diesel needs per acre. If the cost of labour, crushing of straw cost and other costs included, it will come around Rs 6,000 to Rs 7000 per acre in Punjab and Haryana," said Sewa Singh, a farmer and member of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) in Karnal adding that's was the reason the Government incentive failed to attract farmers.
THREE MECHANICAL OPTIONS
There are three machines which can be used to deal with the residual wastes on a field as a farmer goes from harvesting to planting the next crop. "These are the Bailer, the Mulcher and the Happy Seeder. They costs in lakh each and no single farmer can be expected to block that amount of money. So, as mechanical solutions go, these machines need to be shared to be affordable," said Inderjeet Singh Ahlawat, leader of All India Kisan Sangh, Haryana.
The Bailer cuts the wastes and makes bales which can then be sold, mostly as fodder. The Mulcher cuts and spreads the wastes on the fields so that they serve as mulch and nourish the soil. The Happy Seeder plants the seeds of the next crop in between the stubble left behind from the harvest and over time the stubble itself becomes mulch.
"The problem is that no machine has universal application. The Happy Seeder has received the most attention, but it has its limitations depending on the height of the stalks. Also, it won't work if the next crop is potato and not wheat," said Ahlawat.
EXPERTS OPINION
Farmers burn crop residue to plant next crop, mostly in the cycle of rice followed by wheat. The farmers are mostly pressured for time between crops. Removing the residue is a cost involving the hiring of labour or renting of machines.
"Burning the residue, for most farmers and particularly the smaller ones, is the cheap and easy way out. It has some benefits too like adding carbon to the top soil and killing off pests and weeds. On the other hand, there is the downside of micronutrients being destroyed by the burning," said an expert on Environment.
"Farmers need access to appropriate machinery and training to implement change to discourage burning. Using crop residue in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner could benefit all stakeholders," he said, adding that only 15 per cent of rice residues can be used as fodder, fuel and industrial raw materials.
WHY NOT OPTING MACHINES ON INCENTIVES
Farmers in Haryana's Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Ambala districts told The Pioneer that stubble burning was largely because the subsidy for machines wasn't covering the costs of the equipment and the labor involved. It was still much cheaper and easier to burn the residue.
"Farmers know about the repercussions of burning crop stubble and that's why you won't come across a single farmer who really wants to continue with the practice. But the cost of disposing of crop residue is so prohibitive that most farmers are forced to set the stubble on fire," said Arvind Kumar, a farmer at Pundri village near Kurukshetra.
The farmers also complained about the lengthy bureaucratic processes to claim the subsidies for the machines. "The fact that Government officials want us to use expensive machines clearly shows that they are far removed from reality and in Haryana 70 per cent owns land less than 10 acres," said Vijay Kumar, a farmer in Madina village near Meham in Haryana.
Other farmers also complained about a sharp fall in the prices of their produce and the rising cost of diesel, widely used in tractors and farm equipment. With their incomes under strain, they said they have less capacity, and enthusiasm, to address environmental issues.
ALTERNATIVE OF STUBBLE BURNING
The message from Haryana and Punjab could be disconcerting for the Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose office has been actively involved in framing policies and taking initiatives to help avoid the repeat of last year's dangerous spike in pollution levels.
Holding authorities responsible for not taking abrupt steps for farmers to stop stubble burning, Dr Baljit Bhyan, Former Horticulture officer in Haryana said that government can encourage farmers by providing compensation and pushing farmers to decompose stubble.
"But that takes times and due to small land pieces availability farmers oppose this practice. One major factor why farmers don't decompose stubble is that they fear the insect in rice may destroy their next crop in field and decomposing stubble also takes time. Farmers also oppose decomposing stubble as it requires machines which they cannot afford," said Dr Bhyan adding that Government should setup an institution to decompose stubble.
"There are others method too to utilise stubble in making of cardboards and it can also be used to make gas and fuel but these are only on papers nothing have come so far practically," said Dr Bhyan.
SC's DIRECTION TO HARYANA AND PUNJAB GOVERNMENTS
Supreme court in its order in month of February this year, said that the stubble burning, the key reason for the rising air pollution in Delhi and NCR, was not going to stop merely by issuing directions and asked Punjab and Haryana Governments to consider granting some kind of subsidy to the farmers.
A bench comprising Justices AK Sikri, SA Nazeer and MR Shah said the court was of the view that the problem of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is not going to stop on its own by merely issuing directions and advisory.
"We ourselves are saying that this (directions and advisory) is not going to work... The farmers do not have any cheaper method to deal with the issue of stubble. You consider granting some kind of subsidy to them so that crop burning can stop," the bench had said.
The bench said the farmers will not do it on their own and they should be given some kind of incentive to ensure that stubble burning stops.
"Despite Apex court order nothing was done by State Governments of Punjab and Haryana for farmers. If farmers are given compensation the stubble burning will reduce with great effect," said Rajendra Singh, former agriculture officer in Haryana and member of Haryana Vigyan Manch.
POLLUTION IN capital
According to Chandar Veer Singh, an Environmentalist, the farmers are not to be blamed for pollution in Delhi. "In Haryana and Punjab, stubble burning is yet to kick start. I agree there is a contribution, around 8-10 per cent, to pollution by stubble burning but there are other reason that contribute most to rise in pollution level in Delhi which are neglected by the Government whole year," said Singh.
"In Delhi, why Government doesn't starts using water sprinklers. The Government can use treated water and with use of water tankers, treated water can be sprayed over in Delhi on dust points including roads where most of the dust is found," he said.
"Government can plant saplings and they can impound diesel vehicles over 10 year and petrol vehicles over 15 years, which are in lakhs and still running on roads," said Singh adding that these things will reduce 70 per cent of city pollution.
STUBBLE BURNING CASES REPORTED
According to data from Punjab and Central Pollution Control Boards, the State has recorded a whopping increase of 7,842 fires — from 12,027 on October 27 to 19,869 on October 30.
Haryana recorded an increase of 476 cases — from 3,735 on October 27 to 4,211 on October 30. "There is a drop in the number of stubble burning cases as compared to last year. In Haryana, more than 500 FIRs have been registered by the police against farmers involved in stubble burning," said Aditya Dabas, Deputy Director, Agriculture department in Karnal.
"In Karnal, to reduce stubble burning and create awareness, Government has launched five farmer producer organisation, 257 customer hiring centers opened and 1,000 farmers have been given subsidy on farm equipments," said Dabas.
"Since last one and a half year, Karnal Agriculture Department is organising nuked-nataks, cultural events, camps in villages and city to create awareness among farmers regarding stubble burning and profit of using machines," said Dabas.