Addressing stubble burning and agricultural challenges: Finding sustainable solutions

Stubble burning is not only an issue in Punjab and Haryana; it’s a concern for all farmers harvesting paddy in their fields.

- PYALI CHATTERJEE

Burning remains the cheapest method to clear the paddy field from stubble, necessary to prepare for the next harvest. We are acutely aware of the challenging conditions faced by farmers in our country. Every year, we encounter numerous reports highlighting how farmers, burdened by poor financial standards, resort to tragic measures such as suicide. India’s agricultural sector, which employs over 260 million individuals, is facing a severe crisis. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 30 farmers commit suicide each day, largely driven by insurmountable debts. Government data from 2020 reveals that over 10,000 people working in agriculture took their own lives.

Despite the presence of laws and regulations, the government has consistently failed to effectively address the issue of stubble burning, which occurs like clockwork every year, resembling a recurring season of problems that come and go. This persistent problem has severe consequences for farmers and the environment.

In many instances, farmers find themselves in dire financial straits, compelled to take loans for their agricultural activities. Over time, this debt burden can become intergenerational, with succeeding family members inheriting the financial stress. When these loans accumulate, along with high interest rates, they can become insurmountable, leading some desperate family members to consider taking their own lives as a way out of the financial crisis. It is a heartwrenching choice, but one that can appear less daunting than attempting to clear the debt.