Farmers Movement Archive

Five-fold field fires

With industrial and other economic activity yet to regain normalcy, it might be tempting for the farmers to take recourse to this environmentally hazardous method, but the government should take steps to curb the practice instead of looking the other way. In Punjab, farmers have been advised to plough back the straw into the soil instead of burning it and the compliance remains to be seen.The burning of crop straw has been a festering problem and there have been suggestions to look into the possibility of formulating a strategy for agricultural waste management to channelise its use for various purposes. Haryana has instituted a system of awarding panchayats that refrain from burning crop stubble and the possibility of a similar practice for Punjab can be looked into. Experts have repeatedly pointed to the fact that the practice of burning stubble needs changes in agricultural practices like the crop pattern and growing of varieties that are more environment-friendly while fetching good yield and prices. Bringing about change is not easy and the farmers have to be educated about the benefits to make them stick to the practice. Not that it had been easier earlier, but with their apprehension over the fate of the MSP regime, conforming to the rules will not be smooth for the farmers.

The Tribune

2020-10-10