As stubble burning escalates in neighbouring states, Delhi has recently witnessed a sharp spike in air pollution levels. Grappling with the challenge of limited resources, farmers often turn to this practice as a last resort.

In the face of this issue, the story of an IAS officer from Ambala, Haryana, stands out. In June 2021, Vikram Yadav took charge as district collector and tackled the issue of stubble burning head-on.

Through innovative strategies and community engagement, he achieved an astonishing 80 percent reduction in stubble burning incidents in just one year — all without resorting to harsh measures. Let’s take a look at the effective strategies he implemented to address the challenge.

Multi-faceted approach to stubble burning: Vikram realised it was mandatory to approach the farmers for in-situ and ex-situ waste management. So, he analysed data to identify root causes and engaged farmers for tailored waste management solutions.

Zone assessment: Ambala was divided into red and yellow zones based on farm fire frequency. Red zones had more than six incidents per year, while yellow zones had up to five. Eight red zones and 89 yellow zones were identified.

Community engagement: Vikram collaborated with agriculture officers and local officials to organise awareness campaigns, student-led rallies, and public messaging at fuel stations and other public spaces to educate villagers about the harmful effects of stubble burning.

Equipment introduction: Vikram’s goal was to achieve zero farm fires in red zones. So, he introduced smart seeder machines, shredders, straw balers, and other equipment. The farmers could hire the equipment from government-run Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) or purchase them at subsidised rates.

Commercial alternatives: Farmers could sell stubble to power plants and collaborate with local packaging industries.

The results were significant. Stubble burning incidents dropped from 702 between 15 September and 30 October, 2020, to just 146 in 2021. Farmers were motivated by immediate cash payments and money transfers during the waste management process.

Nirmal Singh, a farmer from Dhurala village, rented and later purchased equipment to convert stubble into organic matter. He mixed shredded stubble with soil which enhanced soil quality. “Now my 25-acre land has much softer soil, and I expect it to help increase productivity,” he says.

“I hope the success of the initiative remains consistent in coming years, and it serves as a model for others to prevent stubble burning,” Vikram says.