Why Indian farmers fire stubble in spite pollution & health risks?

• Indian farmers fire stubble despite pollution & health risks.
• Residents are experiencing worsening health issues.
• The waiting time for renting such machinery is often as long as two weeks.

Indian farmers continue to burn crop stubble, despite being well aware of the harmful consequences for nearby areas and the world’s most polluted capital city in the face of deteriorating air quality and a severe smog crisis in New Delhi.

This practice has led to restrictions on private vehicle usage and school closures in New Delhi.

The air quality is so poor that residents are experiencing worsening health issues, particularly among family members like asthmatic relatives who struggle to breathe and require nebulizers for medication in a village in the state of Haryana.

While many farmers understand the harmful effects of stubble burning, it remains their primary option due to the prohibitive costs of alternative methods, such as renting machinery to clear their fields, which can be as much as $100 for a four-acre farm.

The waiting time for renting such machinery is often as long as two weeks, making it unaffordable for small farmers like Sharma, who own four acres or less.

This situation highlights the challenge faced by authorities in improving air quality in northern India each winter. Over 85% of Indian farmers fall into the small farmer category, controlling 47% of the country’s crop area.

Stubble burning in states like Punjab and Haryana is a significant contributor to Delhi’s air pollution during the October-November period.

While government incentives and fines have led to a decrease in the number of fires this year, nearly a dozen farmers in three villages in Karnal have expressed their intention to continue burning stubble, citing the absence of fines and the cost-effectiveness of this practice, despite its health repercussions.

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