The district administration in Punjab's Tarn Taran has stepped up its campaign against paddy stubble burning, promoting the conversion of agricultural residue into biomass as an alternative to setting fields on fire during the harvesting season.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over farm fires in the district, which has emerged as one of Punjab's major stubble-burning hotspots. Officials are focusing on improving access to crop residue management machinery, encouraging the collection of paddy straw and connecting agricultural waste with industries capable of using it as fuel.
The campaign seeks to address the recurring problem of farmers burning leftover paddy straw to clear their fields quickly for the next crop. Such fires contribute to seasonal air pollution across northern India and also affect soil quality.
๐ง๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ฎ๐ท๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐
Tarn Taran has recorded a particularly high number of farm fires this harvesting season. According to figures reported for the period between September 15 and October 24, Punjab registered 574 farm-fire incidents, of which 270 occurred in Tarn Taran. Neighbouring Amritsar accounted for another 144 incidents.
Together, the two districts represented a substantial majority of the state's reported farm fires, prompting closer monitoring by pollution-control authorities.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently reviewed stubble management efforts in both districts and expressed concern over the continued incidence of burning. It directed district officials to strengthen field-level monitoring and ensure that farmers received timely assistance in managing crop residue.
๐ฆ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ-๐๐ผ-๐ฏ๐ถ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐
A central component of the campaign is the promotion of biomass utilisation, under which paddy straw is collected, processed and supplied for productive uses instead of being burned in fields.
Agricultural residue can be converted into pellets or briquettes for use as industrial fuel. It can also be supplied to thermal power plants, suitable industrial boilers and other facilities capable of using biomass.
The approach is intended to create demand for paddy straw while offering farmers an alternative method of clearing their fields. However, its effectiveness depends on the availability of collection equipment, transport arrangements, storage facilities and reliable buyers.
The CAQM has asked officials to improve coordination among farmers, machinery providers, agricultural residue aggregators and industries. Sector-wise nodal officers have also been tasked with monitoring the actual utilisation of paddy straw.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ
The administration's efforts are being supported by crop residue management machinery, including balers and other equipment used to collect or incorporate leftover straw into agricultural fields.
Officials have been directed to ensure that farmers can access machinery through available hiring arrangements, particularly during the short interval between paddy harvesting and the sowing of subsequent crops.
The CAQM has also deployed flying squads across 18 districts in Punjab, including Tarn Taran, for monitoring during the harvesting season. These teams are tasked with reviewing field conditions, coordinating with district authorities and reporting on measures to prevent burning.
The challenge remains significant because many farmers face tight sowing schedules and the expense of hiring machinery. Authorities are therefore seeking to combine enforcement with practical alternatives that make non-burning methods more accessible.
๐ฃ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The renewed campaign comes as Punjab and neighbouring states confront the annual problem of agricultural residue burning, which adds to deteriorating air quality during October and November.
While farm fires are only one contributor to northern India's winter pollution, authorities have identified their prevention as an important part of broader air-quality management efforts.
The focus on biomass utilisation also reflects a shift towards treating crop residue as a resource rather than agricultural waste. Creating a functioning market for paddy straw could help reduce the economic incentive to burn it.
For Tarn Taran, the immediate test will be whether improved machinery access, industrial demand and closer field monitoring can bring down the number of fires during the remaining harvesting period.