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Stubble management for addressing air pollution

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December 22, 2017

What is the issue?

  • The air quality index for Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida were in the ‘severe’ category with values of 469, 500 and 500 respectively according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
  • Incentivising alternative uses of stubble and promoting technological solutions to recycle it can help check pollution.

What are the factors contributing to air pollution?

  • Stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana is the prime reason.
  • Stubble burning is still continuing in this regions despite it being banned by the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
  • Construction dusts and high traffic had also aggravated air pollution in Delhi and surrounding cities.
  • This coincides almost each year with the onset of foggy winters in North India.

What measures need to be taken to address stubble burning?

  • Stubble management -In most rice growing regions of Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, farmers get economic value for paddy straw by selling it as cattle feed.
  • Both Punjab and Gujarat are home to sizeable dairy co-operatives, which can follow South India’s model.
  • There is a huge agri-business opportunity for the farmers in this region by trading nutrition-rich stubble for livestock and unlocking a potential value-added chain.
  • Economic incentives -Investment by State governments in ramping up mechanisation with built-in incentives for farmers will help generate additional income for farmers.
  • It will also create additional employment opportunities in this region.
  • Private partnership -In much of the US and Europe, crop stubble is cut into bales, and is a much sought after by mushroom growers, livestock owners, and for pulp.
  • Crop stubble can be repurposed to create another value chain around low-cost, eco-friendly wood products.
  • For all this private sector and its expertise can be roped in to create necessary infrastructure and transport links to connect the farms to retail markets.
  • Encouraging Innovation -Punjab Agricultural University had invented a Super-Straw Management System (SSMS).
  • It works to cut, take out stubble, drill wheat seeds, and evenly deposit any loose crop residue over the farm.
  • SSMS deposits crop residue over the farm, adding organic matter over time, retaining nutrients, water and replenishing soil structure.
  • Such innovations need to be encouraged by the government till it reaches every farmers of this region.

 

Source: Business Line, the Hindu 

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