What is the issue of stubble burning?
Clearing fields in minutes. Polluting the region for months.
What is Stubble Burning?
Stubble burning is the practice of setting fire to leftover paddy and wheat crop residue to prepare fields quickly. It is widespread in Punjab and Haryana, with over 80 million tonnes of residue burned every year. While this saves time and cost for farmers, it severely affects the air, soil, and public health.
Why Do Farmers Burn Stubble?
Too little time. Not enough options.
- Water-saving policies delay paddy planting, which in turn delays harvest.
- This leaves a short window for farmers to clear fields before sowing wheat.
- Combine harvesters leave fibrous stubble that is tough to remove without machinery.
- With labour costs rising and time limited, manual clearing is no longer practical.
- Many farmers cannot afford the rental cost of machines like Happy Seeders or balers while burning is nearly free.
- Availability of equipment during the short harvest-to-sowing window is a major challenge
- Subsidies are often delayed or difficult to access.
- Nearly 2 out of every 3 farmers say machines are unavailable or unaffordable in their area!
- In the absence of better options, burning becomes the default choice.
How big is the crisis?
- Over 87 million tonnes of crop residue are burned annually across India
- 35 million tonnes of paddy stubble burned each year in Punjab and Haryana alone
- 37,602 official fire incidents recorded in 2024 Actual numbers may be higher — farmers often burn at times when satellites don't monitor
- Madhya Pradesh recorded 16,360 cases in 2024 (a 31% increase YoY), the highest among monitored states
- Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also saw a sharp rise in stubble-burning incidents, emerging as new hotspots
- In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the issue has now spread to the rabi season, with farmers burning wheat stubble as well.
Stubble burning continues to impact India at a massive scale. Once concentrated in the northwest, the problem is now expanding to new states with rising numbers and shifting patterns.
What’s Released When Fields Are Set on Fire
Pollutants released from burning 1 tonne of paddy:
Carbon Dioxide
1,460 kg
Carbon Monoxide
60 kg
Ash
199 kg
Sulphur Dioxide
2 kg
Particulate Matter
3 kg
Impact on Air Quality and Public Health
Air quality dips and respiratory illnesses spike every burning season
- During peak burning season, stubble fires contribute up to 42% of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels and 35% to overall pollution in NCR
- Average PM2.5 levels rise to 193–270 µg/m³, exceeding national safe limits by over 4 times and WHO limit by over 10 times!
- 9 out of 10 rural households report increased respiratory issues like coughing, asthma, bronchitis during the burning season
- Hospitals in North India report a 30–40% surge in cases of asthma, COPD, bronchitis and pneumonia during this time.
From villages to metros, the severe health impact of stubble burning is painfully visible...
Impact on Soil Health and Farmers
Burning destroys beneficial microbes and depletes organic carbon, which are essential for soil health
| Nutrient/Property | Impact |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen & Sulphur | (by 90%) |
| Phosphorous & Potassium | (by 15-20%) |
| Temperature | |
| Water-holding capacity | |
| Carbon Sequestration |
Almost 9 in 10 farmers report that burning has affected their crop performance over time
Over time, burnt fields show:
- Poor water retention
- Nutrient imbalance
- Increased fertilizer dependency
All of which erode profits and deteriorate soil health
