Stubble burning down, but rain raises new challenges for Punjab farmers

Forecasts of heavy rainfall in the coming days have left farmers in Punjab in a dilemma.

While some rushed to harvest their paddy crop on Friday, others have chosen to wait until after October 15, hoping for stable weather.

With no farm fires reported in the state for the past four days, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained in the satisfactory range.

Officials attribute the decline in stubble-burning cases to an increase in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy residue.

However, the rainfall prediction has kept farmers on edge.

Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh said that the showers at this stage are not favourable for paddy crops, and they could potentially delay the harvesting operation.

"As the first fortnight of November is considered ideal for sowing the wheat crop, the delay in paddy harvesting would leave farmers with a shorter window to harvest and sell the crop and then prepare the field, which may ultimately lead to a spike in farm fires," said Singh.

"Rain may increase the moisture content in rice, which will further delay the harvesting. Early harvesting may lead to high moisture in the paddy seed. Procurement agencies have already made it clear that they would not accept paddy with more than 17 per cent moisture. So, this would ultimately hamper procurement and lifting operations," said an agriculture department expert on a field visit in Patiala.

The forecast for October 6–7 also includes heavy rainfall in Punjab and the catchment areas of the Ravi and Beas rivers in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, prompting the state government to stay alert.

Manjinder Singh, a farmer from Arain Majra village, said he preferred to wait. “My crop is not ready, and I have no shelter to store it. I will harvest only after the weather clears,” he said.

The total count of farm fires stands at 95 until October 2. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has imposed environmental compensation worth Rs 2.45 lakh in 95 cases, recovering Rs 1.90 lakh. Police have also registered 53 FIRs, including 23 in Amritsar, under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience of lawful orders.

The Revenue Department has marked 35 “red entries” in the land records of violators, including 24 in Amritsar. A red entry bars farmers from availing loans, mortgaging or selling land and obtaining gun licences.