Everything you need to know about stubble| How it effects everyone's health

Burning of stubble is a decades-old practice in India for farmers. In earlier times and even today, due to the shortage of funds and being pressed for time, all farmers used to depend on setting the crop waste ablaze to get rid of them quickly. It was done to clear the fields to prepare for the winter sowing season in advance. 

It is anticipated that the 25.81 lakh hectares of farmland in Punjab that were sown with non-basmati paddy this year will have produced 16 million tonnes of residue. 

The majority of this is burning. Each winter, when a foul cloud blankets cities in India's northern plains, especially New Delhi, farm fires cause a commotion. Most of all, even though farmers knew how adversely stubble burning can harm not only the environment but also the health of people and anyone inhaling the smoke, they had no other option but to burn the straw. 

Well, things have changed quite a lot recently. But before we jump into how times turned over a new leaf. But before we understand that, we need to first check how exactly stubble is affecting people’s health. 

Disadvantages of Stubble Burning in Agriculture

Soil Health: Stubble burning in agriculture depletes the soil of vital organic matter, which over time may have a detrimental effect on the fertility and health of the soil. Also, if you burn the straw on the same land, repetitively, the fertility of the soil will be lost and it will no longer be healthy to grow any produce on it.

Environmental Impact: Burning straws have a huge impact on the environment and can stay in the surroundings for months. The fumes generated in the burning process consist of several harmful elements that contribute to increasing greenhouse gas emissions and cause climate change. In addition to this, stubble burning may result in a decline in biodiversity in agricultural areas.

Health concerns: There are endless health concerns about burning straws on citizens or should we say, on the people who inhale it. Residents who tend to inhale the harmful fumes of the burning straw may experience respiratory troubles and other health concerns as a result of the smoke from stubble burning. Also, the fumes are extremely harmful for older people as well as kids of early age.

Air Pollution: The harmful elements and gas produced by the stubble burning in agriculture also contribute to making the worst air pollution in the surrounding areas. Burning stubs produces a lot of air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). All of these elements tend to have detrimental effects on human health and contribute to air pollution.

Due to the harmful effects stubble burning has on the environment and human health, several regions and nations have put rules in place and promoted alternative methods of burning stubble. 

The use of no-till or conservation tillage methods, specialist machinery to handle crop residue, and encouraging the incorporation of stubble into the soil as mulch or compost to improve soil health are some of these possibilities.

News Update about stubble burning effects!

On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, Punjab recorded 32 farm fires. To your surprise, this was the lowest count of this month. However, the total cases of paddy straw burning have crossed 870 in Punjab. Out of these 32 farm fires, 4 were reported in Kapurthala and 18 in Tarn Taran. 

The majority of stubble-burning cases are recorded in Amritsar followed by Tarn Taran, Patiala, Kapurthala, Mohali, and Sangrur, as shown in the latest data from the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre.

One of the factors behind the significant increase in air pollution levels of Delhi-NCR in the months of October and November is the burning of paddy straws in Punjab and Haryana. Farmers are setting their fields on fire to swiftly clean off the residue since there is a very limited window for sowing rabi wheat after the rice harvest.

Punjab generates between 180 and 200 lakh tons of paddy straw annually on its approximately 31 lakh hectares of paddy fields. 120 lakh tons of this are managed utilizing ex-situ (using crop residue as fuel) and in-situ (mixing crop residue in the fields) management techniques.

Government’s take on the issue

In order to reduce air pollution, the NHRC expressed significant worry about the "tardy progress" made thus far toward achieving 0% stubble burning. According to the NHRC's chairperson, it is now necessary to "fix the responsibility of officers from the top to bottom."

Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra, chair of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), made this statement while presiding over the full Commission's follow-up hearing via video conference on the subject of Delhi air pollution. According to officials, last year, the rights panel had taken up suo motu for this matter, based on the media reports.

The NHRC chief expressed, "We have to rise to the situation as millions are choking due to air pollution and cannot allow it to be so perpetually".

Furthermore, he added, "The poor farmers cannot be blamed solely for stubble burning some of them do not have the financial resources to buy or hire machines to remove stubble in a short span between the harvesting of one crop and the sowing of the other."

How stubble burning effects people health?

The biggest problem stubble burning in agriculture has is what it leaves behind for the people. Burning stubble, a practice that involves igniting crop residue that has been left in fields after harvest, can seriously harm people's health. 

This agricultural operation, frequently used to clear fields fast for the following planting season, emits a cocktail of toxins into the atmosphere, which causes a variety of health issues. 

The following are some ways that stubble burning effects people's health:

Risk of Lung Diseases: If you are exposed to the fumes of burnt straw, it may start putting pressure on your lungs. Long-term exposure to air pollution caused by burning stubble might raise the chance of developing major lung diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The health of the lungs is severely harmed by prolonged exposure to tiny particulate matter. If someone already has a lung disease or difficulty breathing, inhaling burning fumes may worsen the case even more. Therefore, if you ever find yourself inhaling such toxic fumes, you must either move out of the place or consider wearing a mask.

Respiratory Issues: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), as well as other gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), are all present in the smoke produced by burning stubble. All these elements cause irritation and difficulty in breathing. By irritating the respiratory system, these pollutants can cause wheezing, bronchitis, worsened asthma, and other respiratory issues. Early problems include difficulty in breathing and coughing.

Mental Health Implications: Stress and anxiety can result from prolonged exposure to air pollution as well as the environmental effects of stubble burning in agriculture, such as poorer air quality and higher heat stress.

Cardiovascular Problems: Additionally affecting the cardiovascular system and raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension is air pollution from burning of stubble. Blood arteries may become inflamed and under oxidative stress as a result of fine particulate particles entering the bloodstream.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations: Due to their bodies' potential inability to handle the toxins, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to the negative effects of stubble burning on their health.

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions and Reduced Immune Function: When exposed to the smoke and toxins from burning stubble, people who already have pre-existing medical ailments, such as allergies, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular problems, may see a worsening of their symptoms. Long-term exposure to air pollution can compromise the immune system's ability to fight off infections and diseases.

Alternative crop residue management techniques, such as mulching, plowing, or utilizing machines to clear fields, as well as encouraging cleaner and more sustainable agricultural practices are all efforts to reduce the negative health effects of stubble burning in agriculture. Farmer adoption of these alternatives can be significantly influenced by government policies and incentives. Furthermore, educating people on the dangers of stubble burning for one's health and the significance of air quality monitoring can aid communities in protecting their health while lessening the negative environmental effects of this practice.

How Landforce helps in the process?

Landforce isn't just a manufacturer of agriculture machines and tools; we recognize our responsibility towards society. Therefore, we always promote our thoughts and beliefs that are totally against the burning of straw. Since we are one of the top manufacturers of Landforce Balers and Superseeders, we always educate and appreciate our customers about how they are contributing to a larger part of society by changing their ways of dealing with stubble.

Due to its contribution to air pollution and detrimental effects on public health, stubble burning, which normally takes place in northern India following the rice and wheat harvest seasons, has been a major environmental problem. Here are some standard tactics and strategies that have been used to deal with this problem:

Awareness and Education: Educating farmers about the negative effects of this practice and supplying them with knowledge on more effective ways to manage crop residues are two essential stages in eliminating stubble burning. Through workshops, seminars, and outreach initiatives, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and agricultural extension services have contributed to raising awareness. We organize timely workshops and other initiatives to spread this word as far as possible. 

Mechanization: By encouraging the use of cutting-edge farming tools like straw balers, zero-till drills, and happy seeders, farmers may effectively manage crop leftovers without resorting to fire. These devices make it possible to reintroduce crop leftovers to the soil, enhancing soil health and lowering the demand for burning. There are still several farmers who are not aware of these high-tech machines, therefore, spreading the word all across is something we never fail to do. 

Summing it up

In conclusion, although it is frequently considered a cosmetic issue, stubble can have a serious negative effect on everyone's health. We've covered a variety of stubble-related topics, including its ability to collect allergens and irritants, its benefit to skin health, and the value of using the right grooming methods. It is obvious that keeping appropriate stubble hygiene goes beyond aesthetics and prioritizes our general well-being.

It's crucial to maintain a regular grooming practice that includes washing, moisturizing, and exfoliating in order to reduce the potential health hazards brought on by stubble. In order to prevent skin concerns and respiratory problems, people with sensitive skin or allergies should be very careful when controlling their stubble.

Keep in mind that everyone can be affected by stubble differently, so it's important to pay attention to your particular skin type and demands. By following these instructions, we can protect our health and well-being while still enjoying the fashionable appearance of stubble. In the end, whether you prefer a clean-shaven face or a rough stubble look, the objective is to find a balance that complements both your personal style and health priorities.