Wheat sowing to start in November, stubble burning cases likely to spike

With much of the paddy crop yet to be harvested, the narrowing of the window for farmers to prepare their fields for wheat sowing is expected to result in a surge in farm fires, commonly used to clear the paddy residue. This could exacerbate the state’s pollution woes.

The ideal wheat sowing period is between November 1 and 15. According to experts, paddy should be harvested by mid-October, so as to leave 15-20 days for the paddy residue to decompose naturally in the soil. A delay in paddy harvesting, triggered by either weather conditions or logistical issues, forces farmers into a time crunch, leading to panic. This, in turn, often results in farm fires, an issue that has already seen an alarming uptick this season.

As of now, the state has reported 123 farm fire cases, the highest this season, fuelling concerns about air quality and environmental degradation.

Former IAS officer and Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board Kahan Singh Pannu, who has taken up farming after retirement, said, “Short-duration varieties like PR-126, which take around 120 days for maturing, are at risk, if not harvested on time. The coming week is crucial, and if the standing crop is not harvested soon, grains will start falling off, impacting the crop yield.”

Pannu also stressed the need for the government to streamline the procurement process in mandis so that farmers can sell their harvested crops swiftly, allowing them to prepare for the next sowing cycle.

Dr Baldev Singh Naurat, former Director of the Punjab Seed Certification Authority, echoed similar concerns. He predicted a rise in farm fires around Diwali or in the first week of November. “The area under summer maize crop has increased significantly, now exceeding 1.5 lakh hectares,” said Naurat.

Maize sown in April-May requires heavy irrigation and after its harvest, farmers plant paddy in August, which matures by late October or early November. “Some farmers, in an attempt to prepare their fields quickly, resort to farm fires,” he said.

Delayed harvesting, narrow sowing window and increased acreage under maize seems to be pushing more farmers toward resorting to farm fires, he added.