Punjab records 13% fall in straw burning
Half of 74.5 lakh acres under paddy saw straw burning despite subsidised machines
CHANDIGARH: The area under paddy stubble burning fell by 13% in Punjab this harvest season as compared to last year. State figures, however, show that half of the area under paddy cultivation saw straw burning despite the government’s push for mechanised disposal of crop residue.
The number of fields on fire was more than 43,000 this year even as 25,922 machines were provided to farmers on subsidy.
The Punjab government had told the Centre that the state can’t do much to check stubble burning this time as the machines supplied on subsidy covered only 30% of the 74.5 lakh acres under paddy. In 2017, stubble was burnt on 44 lakh acres, which was 62% of the total area under paddy cultivation. This year, paddy straw was burnt in 36 lakh acres, which was 49% of the total area under cultivation.
But the state is hopeful of a “visible change in scenario” next year. “The air quality index was better in Punjab this harvest season as compared to the corresponding period last year. The area where stubble was burnt this year has come down by 13% as compared to last year,” additional chief secretary Vishavjeet Khanna says.
The state government told the National Green Tribunal on Thursday that it would take a year to yield better results. For three years, the NGT has been pushing Punjab to end the malpractice. “Things will improve next year because by then more machines will roll in and our information, education and communication programme will run throughout the year,” Khanna says.
MANAGING RESIDUE AND MINDSET
The Centre approved a scheme of Rs 1,151 crore in March to promote crop residue management by incorporating the straw into the soil as opposed to burning it. Of the amount to be spent in 2018-19 and 2019-20, Rs 695 crore was earmarked for Punjab and the remaining for Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. A sum of Rs 269 crore was spent on machines to farmers at subsidised rates. The rest would be used next year.
With the subsidy, the government distributed 8,902 Happy Seeder machines, 4,011 paddy straw choppers, 2,808 reversible mould board (RMB) ploughs, 2,942 zero till drills, 3,362 straw management system (SMS) with harvest combines, 411 rotary slasher machines, 3,484 rotavators and two shrub cutters.
The machines were given to 11,424 farmers, 9,622 cooperative societies, 4,659 custom hiring centres and 217 government agencies through Krishi Vikas Kendras.
The state government estimated that the machines would cover two-fifths (40%) of the area under paddy but by the end of season, government figures showed the reach was not to that extent.
A total of 220 lakh tonnes of stubble is produced along with the paddy. The biomass power generating units in the state consume 50 lakh tonnes of stubble. Of the remaining 170 lakh tonnes, 100 lakh tonnes go unmanaged and a majority of farmers prefer to burn it.
“Farmers still need to be sensitised. They are reluctant to sow wheat with paddy shoots in the soil,” says agriculture department joint director Manmohan Kalia.
THE MACHINES WERE GIVEN ON SUBSIDY TO 11,424 FARMERS, 9,622 COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND 217 GOVT AGENCIES