Stubble management: Harnessing ex-situ options and market mechanisms

Punjab, known as the ‘Granary of India’, is among the top three producers of food grain in the country, with over 11 million tonnes of rice and 16 million tonnes of wheat produced every year. The state relies heavily on the rice–wheat cropping pattern, wherein rice is cultivated during the kharif (summer) season and wheat during the rabi (winter) season. These two crops occupy over 80% of Punjab’s total cropped area. To handle this large-scale crop harvesting, farmers have transitioned to using mechanical harvesters, leaving stubble on the ground. Moreover, as the next sowing cycle begins immediately, the farmers are left with a short window to manage the stubble. Consequently, farmers often resort to stubble burning, with more than 50% of the rice stubble burnt in Punjab in 2020.

CSTEP conducted an in-depth study of stubble management in Punjab to address the complex challenge of stubble burning. The major findings have been compiled in this policy brief. The policy brief conceptualises a regulatory framework to enhance the supply of stubble, establish adequate infrastructure for a robust supply chain network, and stimulate demand. This would help generate alternative revenue streams and promote start-ups involved in stubble management.

Press Release