A State-driven solution to crop stubble menace

If the State were to buy the crop residue from the farmers and convert it for use in thermal power generation, it could allow North India to breathe easy in winters

- Ajay Shankar

Another Diwali, another unbearable spike in air pollution, health problems for a large section of the population, and public outcry. Deja vu. Must we reconcile ourselves to this annual phenomenon after harvesting the rice crop – of burning the crop residue in the agricultural fields in northern India? After all, the farmers will continue to grow rice and thus need to clear their fields for sowing wheat. This, in turn, will require them to burn the crop stubble. It is convenient and costs nothing. Nothing seems to have worked so far to end this practice. The smoke from stubble burning and the annual health crisis that results in large chunks of North India have been at the centre stage for some years now.

There is, however, a simple solution that could solve the problem next year. For this to happen, decisions must be taken now. But, the solution is radical and would need a major change in our mindset. The government would have to assume direct and full responsibility. The solution is for the government to buy all the crop waste at a remunerative price. The farmer should get a reasonable margin over her cost of removing the crop residue from the field, bringing it to the mandi and selling it to a government-designated agency. She would respond to the price signal if it is sufficiently powerful. The entire crop waste would then come to the government. Farmers’ incomes would also rise a little. Nothing would be burnt in the fields next year.