Towards zero stubble burning: Lessons from Punjab and Haryana and the challenges beyond

Parihar, Dilwar Singh; Khandai, Suryakanta

Towards zero stubble burning: Lessons from Punjab and Haryana and the challenges beyond

Autores

Parihar, Dilwar Singh

Khandai, Suryakanta

Editor

International Rice Research Institute

Descripción

"Combine harvesters have revolutionized rice harvesting by efficiently cutting, threshing, and collecting grains. However, they leave behind vast quantities of paddy residue in the fields, creating a major challenge for subsequent wheat sowing, which requires a clean seedbed for the seed drill. To prepare fields quickly, many farmers resort to burning this residue, an estimated 90 to 140 million tonnes of crop biomass are burnt each year across India. Burning is often perceived as the fastest and cheapest option, saving time and labor while also being believed to reduce pest infestation. In reality, manual removal or in-field management of residue can cost ₹6,000–7,000 per acre, making burning appear economically convenient despite its severe environmental and health costs. The resulting smoke and emissions significantly degrade air quality across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, turning stubble burning into one of North India’s most persistent environmental challenges. Encouragingly, recent years have witnessed a notable decline in burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana, thanks to strong policy measures, technological innovations, and growing farmer awareness. However, an upward trend in residue burning across parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan is emerging, signaling the need for urgent and targeted interventions. By learning from the successful models in Punjab and Haryana, it is possible to scale sustainable solutions, such as mechanized residue management, bioenergy utilization, and farmer-industry linkages to new regions. Building on the progress achieved and addressing the remaining gaps will be key to realizing the vision of a stubble-burning-free, sustainable rice–wheat farming system in India."