Stubble burning seriously affects the environment very badly causing serious health hazards in people. What do you mean by stubble burning and what are its effects on environment? What measures should be taken by the Government to persuade farmers not to follow this practice? Discuss. (250W/15M)

Sources:

Stubble Burning – A threat to the environment?

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/up-in-the-air/article25099646.ece

Model Answer:

Stubble Burning:

  • Stubble burning is the deliberate setting fire to the crop residue that remains after wheat, paddy and other grains have been harvested. The carbon (C) component in stubbles is lost by burning and that the process of burning stubbles even occasionally, seriously affects the organic carbon levels of the soil and adversely affects the environment.

Effect on Environment:

  • Around 80 per cent of the C in standing stubble will return to the atmosphere as CO2. Losses of carbon as CO2to the atmosphere through burning are often only slightly greater than through natural decomposition, but they are of course immediate and harmful.
  • Burning straw leads to increase in particulate matter (PM) in the air. The burning causes release of acids like sulfates, nitrates, metals in the air and could cause severe health problems.
  • According to the experts, burning of straw burns out 1 lakh tonnes of nitrogen, 0.5 lakh tonnes of phosphorus and 2.5 lakh tonnes of potash in the soil over the 29-30 lakh hectares in which paddy is grown annually.
  • Stubble burning leads to loss of nutrients, loss of carbon, impact on soil microbes and fauna, reduction in soil structure (soil aggregate stability), increase in erosion (wind and water) and can increase acidity over time.

Measures to persuade farmers:

  • In response to alarming air pollution level in the National Capital Region, the Delhi High Court recently had taken the ‘suo motu’ action to ban burning of crop residue.
  • The court issued a direction to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi to implement notifications and directions issued under the Air Pollution Act to ban burning of crop residues.
  • Recognizing the need for companies and industries to comply with their corporate social responsibility towards curbing air pollution, the Court directed to some corporate entities to collect crop residue from fields of farmers by providing them money as consideration for lifting the agricultural residue.
  • Setting up of more biomass plants as they will buy the stubble to be used to feed into the plants in order to rot and decay for power generation. This will also generate income to the farmers for which they will be paid.
  • The farmers should be persuaded to allow their animals to feed on the stubble or by conversion of stubble into goat fodder. Converting stubble into animal fodder will lead to increase into milk and meat which will add more value that using it as fuel.
  • The plants of mushroom grow on the heaps of stubble. The farmers should also be persuaded of how the stubble can be used for making compost and ploughed back and can also be used to grow mushroom by making its heap can save from being disposed in a manner which damages the soil and environment.
  • Zero-till farming is another alternative which sows wheat seeds without removing the stubble. Tractor-mounted happy seeders, rotavators, and straw-reapers simultaneously cuts rice stubble and sows wheat seeds, depositing the cut stubble on top as mulch.

Conclusion:

  • The farmers should be encouraged to adopt conservation farming systems. Alternative options to manage stubble residues, particularly in high rainfall areas, are continuing to evolve.
  • An all-round aggressive approach is needed on behalf of the government, scientists and farmers in the form of adoption of ‘straw management technologies’.
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Zendagi_ migzara
Zendagi_ migzara
5 years ago

CDTEST 20496
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Pritam Kumar
5 years ago

Hello Priyadarshi,
-Introduction is very good…with good flow of ideas and well arranged points…
Very nice approach….keep it up…well done…
-Marks awarded: 7.5/15

Imgroot
Imgroot
5 years ago

CDTEST20319comment imagecomment imagecomment image

Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  Imgroot

Hi Imgroot,
-Introduction seems okay…though you have used colloquial language here…
-Ideas in the points mentioned are good…
-Point 2 on 2nd page..add…burning stubble on field causes nutrient lose from the farm which further have their own consequences….like increased use of fertilizers, health hazard, poor crop etc…etc…
-under persuading farmers…You can also mention about the Delhi HC’s ruling…like asking MNCs to take initiatives under corporate social responsibility, establishing plant…etc…etc…etc…
-Points and ideas mentioned are good and well arranged…nice approach…well done…keep it up…
Keep writing…
Marks awarded: 7/15

Invincible
Invincible
5 years ago

CD TEST 20378comment imagecomment image

Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  Invincible

Hello Invincible,
-Introduction seems okay…
-Under effect…1st point…what is PM…It should be PM Particles…, also mention how they affect environment…Point 3 need further clarification….how?
-point 3 under govt initiatives…need further justification…
-Conclusion is general…

-Need to bring completeness in individual points….the individual points should show entire picture in clear way…and should not leave half informed…

Overall good attempt…some modifications in points may improve the quality of answer…keep practicing…will improve….
Keep writing…
Marks awarded: 5/15

Kapiushon
Kapiushon
5 years ago

CDTEST20663
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Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  Kapiushon

Hello Kapiushon,
-Stubble burning is not only associated with sugarcane…but with all other crops…like wheat, rice, maize etc…
Introduction seems okay…
-Under effect…point 3 should come before point 2…Point 3…burning releases PM 2.5 particles, CO2, NO2 ashes, etc…
-Burning also affects in nutrients destruction from the soil…lead to associated consequences….
-Some of the points in effects are mentioned in general way….
-Point 4 under govt. measures….sentence is not providing complete idea…
-Conclusion is very general and poor…and also deficit of points….bring more points here….
Overall attempt is okay….but can certainly be improved further….keep practicing….
Keep writing…
Marks awarded: 4.5/15

Kapiushon
Kapiushon
5 years ago
Reply to  Pritam Kumar

Thanks for the review…
Should we write ‘conclusion’ as a subheading before writing it??

Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  Kapiushon

Subheading not required…but it should seem that the point is concluding the conversation…

anita raul
anita raul
5 years ago

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Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  anita raul

Hello Anita,
-Kindly mention your ID…with your answer
-Write in proper sheet of paper with margin on both edges of page…
-There is no clarity in image uploaded…your answer appears blur and posses difficulties in reading….first ensure at your end the appearance then upload…
-Points and ideas are mentioned in too general way…and apparently shows your lack of conceptual clarity about the topic…
-many of the points are irrelevant…like…under govt. steps…point 2, 3, 4 etc…
-Your sentences are incomplete…and convey incomplete ideas…
-letters of the words and words should be written properly…and should not pose difficulties in reading….

Though good attempt….need more specific focus on question while developing ideas and points….read more about the topic…

Refer our model answer or other best answer reviewed for better clarity…

anita raul
anita raul
5 years ago
Reply to  Pritam Kumar

okay sir thanks for review .but am not paid student where i will get id .

prafull sharma
5 years ago

CDTEST20324
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Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  prafull sharma

-Hello Prafull,
-Introductory sentence seem poor…form standard sentence…’stubble burning is burning of stubble’…????
-Under effects also mention about…it releases PM 2.5, NO2, SO2 etc which are harmful for environment as well as human health…
-Points under govt. initiatives are too general and conveys aerial depiction of idea…Here you can mention about Delhi HC directions…
-The rest of the points are good….

Overall your attempt is good…few specification in points may make your answer better…
Keep writing…
Marks awarded: 6/15

Satvik
Satvik
5 years ago

comment imagecomment imagecomment image

Pritam Kumar
5 years ago
Reply to  Satvik

Hello Satvik,
-Introduction is okay….
-Ideas under effects are very general….
-Sentences are incomplete under govt. measures…not conveying complete idea…and meaning…
-Ideas and points mentioned need justification or explanation…remember, individual points should have to be complete in itself…

Refer our model answer or other best answer reviewed for better clarity….

Satvik
Satvik
5 years ago
Reply to  Pritam Kumar

Thank u sir ?your feedback is fuel to work better n harder .

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