Curbing stubble burning

The problem of stubble burning, a major factor behind air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, is proving to be intractable, with farmers in Punjab claiming that the state government failed to pay them the compensation for not burning crop residue and they are finding it difficult to pay off the loans taken to buy machinery to manage the straw. The Chief Minister, who holds the agriculture portfolio, has claimed he has taken up with the Centre the granting of compensation to the farmers for defraying the cost on the management of paddy straw. With technology increasingly being used in agriculture, the use of farm machinery has gone up. While this has reduced dependence on labour, it has also meant capital investment and the pressure to make the purchase economically viable.

The state recently appointed nodal officers to check straw burning and their services can be utilised to mobilise equipment, estimate straw yield and finalise compensation. Punjab is witnessing an agitation against the farm laws, making the ruling Congress mull taking recourse to steps under the Concurrent list so that the farmers are not affected, and the possibility of dealing with stubble burning can also be examined.

The Supreme Court asking if the MSP can be withheld over farm fires appears to be a bit hasty. It amounts to withholding a portion of the minimum support price and releasing it later only after a verification that the stubble was not burnt. The court should bear in mind that the government provides MSP on 23 crops but not all are purchased at support price, mostly those that are vital for food security. Also, not all farmers are able to sell at the MSP and with their level of awareness, the chances of their getting unfairly penalised are real. It will also give the implementing agencies a handle to harass the farmers. The government should instead examine the possibility of roping in agencies involved in agricultural marketing in the task of managing crop stubble. With its elaborate state machinery, the problem should not be left alone for the farmers to solve.

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