Crop Burning
Every year, as the weather gets colder, parts of the country, particularly Lahore and its neighboring areas are overwhelmed by the pall of smog. In a big city like Lahore, transportation is one of the main causes of air pollution. Another factor that contributes up to 20 percent to air pollution is burning the residue of crops. Between October and January every year, out of 8.5 million tonnes of rice residue produced, at least 3.6 to 5 million tons are burnt to clean the fields for the next planting.
Burning crops is considered the fastest and most affordable way for farmers across the whole country. Instead of using the residue as a raw material for industries or using it to produce relatively clean domestic produced fuel, the main part of the residue is burnt which increases air pollution. A little amount of residue is used in Pakistan in animal bedding, garden mulch, heating fuel, etc. As the UN report observes wheat and rice straw are not used as industrial raw material in the country on a mass scale. Agriculture is in fifth place, playing a vital role in the country’s economy. The residue it produces can be used to enhance the profit which is beneficial for the environment as well as the farmer himself. The straws can be used to make multiple items that can generate revenue for the country.
Burning crops have dire effects on the environment as well as on human health. It causes premature death, reduces work productivity, and can be damaging for pregnant mothers, and children. The air quality also reduces due to the combustion of residue. Burning crops does not have hazardous effects on the environment only, but it is also harmful to the soil as it eradicates all minerals and nutrients from it causing trouble for the next crop being sowed.
UN report suggests that instead of wasting the residue by combustion, it can be used as raw material in gasification and biofuel production, which can produce relatively clean and domestically produced fuel. This process can serve the communities with clean fuel which reduces the import bill and helps the country grow its economy. India is actively pursuing biomass gasification. Adopting such techniques can help the country to enhance air quality, reduce air pollution caused by the combustion of crops, and grow its economy by reducing the import bill.
Our state should take the farmers on board to reduce crop burning and aware them of the alternative use of the residue they burn. Moreover, to have a visible impact on reducing air pollution, all the states of South Asia will have to work together to lower the pollution and enhance air quality in the region.
This article is a rewritten version of an article published in the Dawn newspaper on June 15, 2023.
