Stubble-burning area in Punjab 20% lower than last year’s in three major districts: data

Why in the News ?

Recent satellite data show that the area affected by stubble burning in Punjab, particularly in Amritsar, Taran Taran, and Ferozpur districts, is 20% lower than last year.  Between October 13 and 28, 2025, around 2.46 lakh hectares were burnt compared to 3.15 lakh hectares during the same period in 2024, suggesting a gradual improvement in controlling farm fires.

Background

• Annual Stubble-Burning Cycle: After harvesting paddy (kharif crop), farmers in Punjab and Haryana often burn crop residue to quickly clear fields for sowing wheat (rabi crop).  The short gap of 15–20 days between harvest and sowing, coupled with labour and machinery costs, drives this practice.
• Environmental Impact: Stubble burning contributes up to 35% of Delhi’s winter PM2.5 load, severely affecting air quality across North India.
  It also releases carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, worsening climate change.
• Policy Efforts: The Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have repeatedly directed states to curb stubble burning. Central and state governments have introduced several schemes — including Happy Seeder machines, Pusa bio-decomposers, and in-situ management subsidies — under the National Policy for Management of Crop Residue (NPMCR).
• Previous Trends:
  • 2022: 15.4 lakh hectares burnt.
  • 2023: 19.1 lakh hectares (a sharp increase).
  • 2024: 19.4 lakh hectares (similar to 2023).
    The latest data for 2025 suggest a modest decline in specific districts but uncertainty over statewide results.

Feature

Data Insights

• Data Source: Satellite imagery from Suhora Technologies (Noida) and field observations from Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials.
• Observation Period: October 13–28, 2025.
• Key Findings:
  • 515 fire events in Amritsar, Taran Taran, and Ferozpur — about 55% of the total 933 fires in Punjab.
  • Burnt area: 2.46 lakh hectares in 2025 vs. 3.15 lakh hectares in 2024 → ~20% decline.
  • Fire counts in early November (Oct 28–Nov 4): rose from 993 to 2,839, but still 50% lower than 2024 and only one-fifth of 2023 levels.
    

Reasons for the Decline

• Heavy Rains and Flooding (September 2025): Delayed paddy harvest by almost a month, resulting in fewer fires in October.
• Improved Awareness and Monitoring: Farmers are increasingly aware of penalties, satellite tracking, and government vigilance.
• Adoption of Machinery: Use of Happy Seeders and Super SMS machines for in-situ residue management has risen.
• Targeted Government Campaigns: The Punjab government’s “Izzat Ghar di Rakhi, Dhuaan Na Kaddhi” and other community-driven campaigns encouraged behavioural change.
  

Regional Specifics

• Amritsar–Taran Taran Belt: Early-burning region; fires likely concluded by October-end.
• Ferozpur: Larger farms with better mechanisation adoption contributed to improved control.
  

Challenge

• Peak Burning Yet to Come: November remains the critical period, and the overall burnt area may still rise sharply.
• Economic Pressure on Farmers: Limited time and high machinery costs push marginal farmers to burn residue despite subsidies.
• Data Transparency Issues: The government releases fire counts but not burnt area data, leading to an incomplete picture.
  Farmers may also burn post-satellite passes to avoid detection.
• Delayed Crop Cycle: Monsoon flooding postponed harvests, compressing sowing time and worsening pressure on farmers.
• Subsidy and Machinery Gaps: Despite thousands of subsidised machines being distributed, many are underused or concentrated in certain districts.
• Cross-Border Externalities: Pollution from Punjab and Haryana affects Delhi-NCR, leading to political blame-shifting rather than cooperative action.
• Enforcement vs. Incentives: Penalising farmers often backfires politically; genuine alternatives remain insufficiently attractive.

Way Forward

• Shift from Penalty to Incentive Model: Provide direct residue management incentives under schemes like PM-PRANAM (2023) to promote eco-friendly practices.
• Scale up Bio-Decomposers: Expand the Pusa Decomposer programme across all paddy-growing districts, ensuring timely spraying.
• Decentralised Crop Residue Collection: Establish village-level biomass depots to convert stubble into bio-CNG, pellets, or cardboard material.
• Diversify Cropping Patterns: Promote maize, pulses, or basmati rice cultivation to reduce water use and stubble volume.
• Advance Satellite Monitoring: Combine real-time satellite imagery (ISRO + private firms) with ground validation for precise burnt area estimation.
• Strengthen Institutional Coordination: Integrate efforts of MoEFCC, Ministry of Agriculture, CPCB, and State Boards under a single national monitoring dashboard.
• Community Engagement: Empower Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and panchayats to lead awareness and machinery-sharing programmes.

Conclusion

The preliminary data from Punjab’s three major districts suggest a 20% decline in stubble-burning area, offering cautious optimism. Yet, the persistence of farm fires in early November highlights that policy success remains partial and regionally uneven.
True progress demands a shift from enforcement to empowerment – linking climate goals, farmer livelihoods, and air quality management under a holistic residue economy.
Until such systemic change takes root, stubble burning will remain a recurring seasonal challenge at the heart of India’s pollution crisis.