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?

           

Paddy Harvesting


Late October

        

Narrow Window


15–20 days
        

Wheat Sowing


Early November

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

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.

Impact on Air Quality and Public Health

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, reducing soil fertility and affecting long-term agricultural productivity.

Nutrient / Property Impact
Nitrogen & Sulphur (90%)
Phosphorous & Potassium (15–20%)
Soil Temperature
Water Holding Capacity
Carbon Sequestration

Almost 9 out of 10 farmers report reduced crop productivity after repeated stubble burning.

Over time, burnt fields show

  • Poor water retention
  • Nutrient imbalance
  • Reduced microbial activity
  • Increased fertilizer dependency
  • Decline in soil fertility

These effects reduce farmers' productivity, increase cultivation costs and deteriorate soil health over time.

Soil Before Burning

Condition of soil before burning

Soil After Burning

Condition of soil after burning