In Punjab, a state renowned as India’s ‘granary’, a smoldering environmental catastrophe looms larger with each harvest season. The notorious practice of stubble burning is not just an annual inconvenience but a grave threat, exacerbating air pollution, endangering public health, and eroding soil fertility. The burning of rice stubble, which affects over half the state’s harvest, releases harmful pollutants that shroud the region in a toxic haze each year. This dire scenario demands immediate attention, as stubble fires from the 2023 kharif season alone resulted in over 49,000 incidents, leaving districts like Sangrur and Bathinda grappling with skyrocketing PM2.5 levels and deteriorating air quality.

Enter the latest study from the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a groundbreaking research, providing a lifeline amid the smog. The report, “Stubble Management: Harnessing Ex-Situ Options and Market Mechanisms”, outlined a strategic framework designed to transform Punjab’s stubble management practices. With its comprehensive blueprint, the study proposed actionable solutions to mitigate the stubble burning crisis, offering a beacon of hope for a cleaner, healthier future in one of India’s most agriculturally vital regions.

Urgent Need for Effective Stubble Management

Punjab’s agricultural landscape, dominated by the rice-wheat cropping pattern, generates a staggering amount of stubble each year. The sheer volume of residue produced during harvest seasons has made stubble burning a routine but disastrous practice. In 2021, over 50 percent of rice stubble was set alight, exacerbating air pollution across the region and leading to severe health repercussions. The practice not only deteriorates air quality but also depletes soil fertility, reducing agricultural productivity in the long term.  The environmental impact of stubble burning is profound. During the kharif season of 2023, the state recorded over 49,000 fire incidents, with significant clusters in Sangrur, Firozpur, Bathinda, and Moga. These fires contribute to elevated levels of PM2.5, fine particulate matter known to cause respiratory diseases and other health problems. According to the study, PM2.5 emissions from stubble burning in Punjab reached 91 Gg at the end of the kharif season in 2018, highlighting the scale of the problem and the urgent need for intervention.

Key Findings and Recommendations

The CSTEP study presented a multifaceted approach to address the stubble burning crisis, focusing on both in-situ and ex-situ management solutions. In-situ methods, such as mulching and straw incorporation, involve managing stubble directly on the field, thereby improving soil fertility and increasing crop yields. However, the study emphasized that ex-situ management — where stubble is removed from the field and repurposed — offered additional benefits, including job creation and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

The study stated that establishing a comprehensive infrastructure for stubble management is crucial, which includes setting up straw banks, pelletisation units, and collection centers. Public-private partnerships are essential to create the necessary infrastructure, leveraging both private sector resources and public support.  To encourage the adoption of ex-situ management practices, the study recommended subsidizing costs associated with cutting, baling, and transporting stubble. Farmers currently spend between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,800 per tonne on these activities. Financial support from the government can help offset these costs and make sustainable practices more viable, said the study.

The study suggested focusing on medium- and large-scale farmers, who are more likely to engage in stubble burning. These farmers have larger landholdings and are better positioned to invest in and implement sustainable practices, thus targeting this group can lead to a significant reduction in stubble burning, it added.

In addition, creating a market for stubble-based products, such as pellets for thermal power plants and biomass for industrial boilers, is vital. Developing this market will provide economic value for stubble and incentivize its use as a raw material.

Educating farmers about the environmental and health impacts of stubble burning, as well as the benefits of alternative management practices, is essential, said the study, adding that increased awareness can drive greater adoption of sustainable methods and reduce reliance on burning.

Besides, the study said that investing in research to explore new technologies for stubble management is important. Innovations such as biochar production, which can sequester carbon and improve soil fertility, offer additional benefits and should be explored further.

Establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework to support stubble management is necessary, including setting pricing benchmarks for stubble products and creating long-term contracts between farmers and industries to ensure a stable market for stubble-based products.

Addressing Challenges of Ex-Situ Management

While benefits of ex-situ management are evident, the study highlighted several challenges associated with its implementation.  The study highlighted that current infrastructure is inadequate to support the scale of stubble management required. It added, Punjab needs at least 1,320 straw banks and 165 pelletisation units to meet its 2024 target of processing 5.96 million tonnes of stubble. Establishing these units, particularly near thermal power plants and brick kilns, is crucial for achieving the desired outcomes.

The high cost of cutting, baling, and transporting stubble presented a significant barrier to widespread adoption. Without adequate financial support, many farmers find it more cost-effective to burn stubble rather than invest in ex-situ management practices. Subsidies or direct payments could help alleviate this burden and encourage more farmers to adopt sustainable methods.

It was noted that the demand for stubble-based products currently exceeds the supply. Developing a functioning market for these products is essential for making ex-situ management viable, including promoting the use of stubble in biomass power plants and bioethanol production facilities, as well as supporting start-ups that develop innovative uses for stubble.

Strategic Recommendations for Implementation

To effectively tackle the stubble burning crisis, the study provided several strategic recommendations for the government and other stakeholders, like strengthening machinery and infrastructure, stimulating supply and driving demand, public awareness and education, research and development, and policy and regulatory framework.

The study stressed to prioritize the deployment of balers and other machinery necessary for stubble management, besides ensuring the timely availability and maintenance of these machines to increase their utilization rates and improve the efficiency of stubble collection and processing.

Engaging medium- and large-scale farmers to adopt ex-situ management practices and providing financial incentives and support can encourage them to participate in stubble management programs; support the establishment of new industries that can utilize stubble as a raw material; promote start-ups and businesses that develop innovative uses for stubble; and creating marketplaces for stubble-based products to stimulate demand and ensure a stable market, suggested the study.

Key Recommendations

·         Develop straw banks and pelletisation units

·         Subsidize costs for cutting and transporting stubble

·         Focus on medium- and large-scale farmers

·         Create markets for stubble-based products

·         Educate farmers on the impacts of stubble burning

·         Invest in new stubble management technologies

·         Set pricing benchmarks and contracts for stubble products

·         Ensure availability and maintenance of stubble management machinery

·         Support industries using stubble and develop marketplaces

·         Upgrade infrastructure in high-industrial areas