THE country has been sweltering in temperatures of over 50 degrees Celsius, leading to undesirable consequences. Several factors contribute to this rising temperature, with stubble burning of wheat being a primary cause.
Stubble burning refers to intentionally setting fire to the straw stubble that remains after crops like wheat and rice have been harvested.
This large-scale burning emits environmentally hazardous gases, which get mixed up with oxygen vapours, and raise the temperature. The practice also adds to air pollution and its resultant maladies.
Most peasants believe that setting the stubble ablaze is a free-of-cost method to get rid of the dead wood. However, these poor farmers are unaware of its adverse effects on the environment amid the worsening situation in terms of the climate change phenomenon.
Awareness should be raised among the farmers so that they may adopt substitute methods, such as decomposing sprays. These sprays help tackle the field wastes and transform them into natural soil fertilisers.
The government, the civil society and the national media should play their respective roles in minimising this environmental threat. State officials should launch awareness campaigns through national media and field trips about stubble burning. Socially active civilians, especially students from rural areas, should help farmers realise that this practice may lead to a global catastrophe.
Mohsin Mumtaz
Lahore
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022
