Abstract

India being one of the largest agro - based economy produces large amount of agricultural waste, including crop residues. The act of stubble burning is the intentional fire setting to the residues after the economic crop parts have been harvested. It is considered to be the cheapest and fastest way to get rid of the stubble among the farmers, but it has aggravated air pollution along the regions where the practice is in existence. The other effects of stubble burning are seen to be heat penetration and loss of soil fertility over the environment. The impact of stubble burning is more severe posing a grave threat to the human health and wellbeing. The effects extend even to the agricultural productivity directly and indirectly. This paper would discuss on the impact of stubble burning caused over the environment, agriculture and to the human race. It also justifies the claim that it remains an isolated issue which lacks proper attention from the State and the Centre despite having consolidated and collective impacts. Along with, it would discuss the alternatives to the practice, the technological assistance, interventions by the Government through the schemes and the legislations. One such effective method would involve the sustainable management practices for crop residues using it as a biomass energy. Also the importance of awareness among farmers is laid emphasis, while the implementation gap is to be erected by the government also.

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