Only when Hearts are Ruffled, True Power Expresses “Dil Pe Baat Lagegi, Tabhi To Baat Banegi”
Narrative on Crop Residue Management by Azhar Khan
Written by Pushplata Bhardwaj
On 16th October, 2019, I boarded for a new journey from Chennai via Mumbai to Punjab farm fields of Nabha. The weather was cold. It was dawn, when I landed my footsteps out of the bus at Nabha Bus stand. I hoped on the scooter of my colleague assigned for my orientation, and left for my room.
After reaching the place of accommodation, I got ready for the farm visits. My colleagues took me to a meeting with the Farmers Cooperative Society and volunteers at Khanora village. A series of meetings followed after that from one village to another on the first and second day.
In these meetings, we mobilised farmers and imparted knowledge on mechanized and advanced technologies to manage crop residues, left after the harvesting of grains to sow the next seed/crop in the field. We also sensitized them on the consequences (air pollution, health impact, crop productivity impact) of burning of the stubbles locally known as “Parali ''. Our intent was to discourage farmers from burning the straw stubbles and provide them sustainable, economical and environment friendly alternative solutions.
One day as I was passing through some field. I saw about three acres of farm field/ Parali was burning infront of my eyes. I tried to connect with the local volunteers (who are known to the area & people) to intervene and stop, but he took time. So, I took the lead and intervened. There was a worker in the field, who probably set the fire to the field. I asked the worker to stop to burning. In counter reply, he said “Kyon Na Jalaun” (why shouldn’t I?).
The question raised by the farm worker was pertinent. The law defined by the Government in relation to Burning Crop Residue, a crime ( under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and Air and Pollution Control Act of 1981, National Green Tribunal in 2015 banned crop residue burning in states, where it is prevalent) are also relevant. Alternative solutions of economical technology - Super Seeder, or Bio- decomposers are also viable.
So, what has been missing?
Law failed in compliance by farmers and every year with the onset of winter, farm fires become rampant in northern Indian states. Approx. 20 million tons of rice stubble are produced every year in Punjab, out of which 80% is burnt on the farm, which was conglomerated to form a major reason for deteriorating air quality in the neighbouring states of Punjab and a impediment in the fight against climate change.
I started talking to farmers. Seeking answer to query “Why do you burn crop residues/Parali”.
- Most opined that my forefathers used to do it. It is traditional. We are following their legacy.
- Some mentioned that burning crop residues kills insects in the field and smoke that is generated helps in repelling mosquitoes. It protects the field from Insects and us from dengue.
- Few who have partial/improper knowledge of machines know how in their fields, like superseeder, etc held technology responsible for crop damage or reduced productivity.
I still didn't have the clarity to questions buzzing in my mind, until I found “Mr. Sandeep, a Farmer”, who stopped farm burning as a result of our persistence and his own personal experience. In his own words.
“Sir, my family is very dear to me. One day my Son was returning from school. On the way, some fields were set on fire to burn crop residues. A tremendous amount of smoke, ashes & heat were coming out of it. It was eyes burning and could have turned my Son blind, if it was not taken care timely”
That day, I realised “Dil Pe Lagegi, Tabhi Baat Banegi”. [Only when Hearts are Ruffled, True Power Expresses). My team strategies our Crop Residue Management Project on the underlying above principle and roping in “Human Chain for Change'' persistent volunteers team for consistent reinforcement to the behavioural change. We started taking small drives to large leaps. We nurtured community engagement at an unprecedented scale.
“Beginning with 56 villages and 5511 farmers, we prevented 38,000 acres of land from crop residue burning. In a year, the chain has extended to meaningfully “Engage for Change” with 115 villages, 17565 farmers in 2 states, 5 districts, 7 blocks, 35 Cooperative Societies, District Administration, more than 2000 school children, Anganwadi worker, Self Help Groups & Scientists - preventing Crop Residue Burning in 94,000 acres of farmland”
Trust of people is what I earned from people in Punjab. It is a valuable treasure, where people start confiding to you. And where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. In the course of actions, I became an adventurer in search of this treasure, on the same scooter for a year which picked me up from Nabha Bus stand on my very first day in the land of Punjab.