Solutions beyond subsidies

The problem of stubble burning is zoorsened by delays in government interventions, incoherent agricultural practices, lack of comprehensive support for farmers, ancl insu]7icient adoption of feasible alternatives. While solutions to tlie problem exist, farmers need tlie riglit incentives to move azoay from stubble burning

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As the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR spirals into hazardous levels each winter, the agricultural belt of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh continues to see thousands of stubble-burning cases each year, primarily after the kharif paddy harvest. On November 18, 2024, Punjab recorded 1,251 farm fires daily, raising the state°s cumulative to 9,655 cases this season. This marks a slight improvement from previous years, yet far from eliminating the problem. In contrast, Haryana reported a record low of 1,179 cases, attributed to better policy implementation and adoption of alternatives. However, air quality remains largely unaffected. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights how multiple sources-vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and domestic cooking-significantly contribute to pollution in Delhi NCR, often outpacing stubble burning. Yet, the visual impact of farm fires, visible from satellite data, places them at the forefront of public and political scrutiny every year. On November 17, it contributed 37.5 per cent of Delh's PM2.5 levels, the highest contribution of the season Between October and November 19, 2024, a staggering 42,314 fire instances were reported across India, marking a significant decline from the 65,600 recorded in 2023 and the 133,442 peak in 2016, as per the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. However, while these numbers indicate progress, they mask the underlying problem. Madhya Pradesh led with 12,302 farm fires, followed by Indian Punjab (8,254), Pakistan Punjab (4,902), Uttar Pradesh (3,707), and Haryana (1,179), according to satellite data from Morgan State University researcher Hiren Iethva. Iethva"s analysis highlights a critical flaw in data interpretation. Fires are often set outside satellite monitoring times, leading to potential underreporting. His observations using GEO-KOMSAT 2A, a Korean satellite, reveal a fire spike in the late afternoon when conventional polar satellites no longer