Stubble burning in the farmland of north India and its implications on environment and health

Farmers burn the stubble that remains after harvesting the paddy crop every year in regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh around the months of October and November. The air pollution in the Indo- Gangetic plains is caused by the burning of large fields in these states, as well as by the lowering temperatures and slackening of the wind. Particularly the landlocked Delhi-NCR region is shrouded in a cloud of toxic fog. Government of Haryana and Punjab is promoting the farmers to use ICAR recommended machineries to stop stubble burning. Special subsidies are also been provided to the farmers to use Happy Seeder, Paddy Straw Chopper, Rotavator, Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) to stop stubble fire and reduce air quality of north Indian states. More than 30% stubble burning deduction have been seen in Haryana and Punjab because of technological advancement. This chapter deals with the present scenario of stubble burning in north India and its impact on environment, health and deteriorations of the AQI of NCR region.