By Rameesh Kailasam & Dhiraj Gyani
As the world convenes for the COP28 at UAE and takes stock of its progress since the Paris Agreement, India will also make its presence felt in these discussions. This is significant as air pollution around Delhi and parts of North India continues to affect its people, vegetation and fauna. This demands a systematic, sustained and long-term approach, requiring robust solutions that can be scaled up and endure over time with multi stakeholder collaboration. A good starting point for such a solution is the government’s National Clean Air Programme that provides a crucial framework or overarching structure that facilitates unified and continuous endeavours to combat air pollution.
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) 2019 by the Union government emphasises institutionalising itself through different ministries and inter-sectoral groups including industry experts, academia and civil society. Involvement of diverse stakeholders is pivotal in identifying the different issues fanning air pollution and finding sustainable solutions as one stakeholder cannot singlehandedly solve this problem.
The emergence of crop waste burning as a prevalent practice is relatively new and can be traced back to the shift amongst farmers from manual rice crop harvesting to using combine harvesters. These machines typically leave behind stubble, about 15-30 cm in length on the ground. With a mere three-week gap between the rice harvest and wheat planting seasons, the natural decomposition of these stalks is impossible and hence stubble burning became a common solution. Farmers have been hesitant to adopt alternative practices due to concerns that delay in sowing wheat could potentially diminish its production yield.
Leveraging its extensive experience in empowering 4 million farmers across decades in Indian agriculture, ITC took a proactive step to address this issue. In 2022, it initiated a collaboration with IIT Delhi to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tool designed to monitor stubble-burning practices by tracking and identifying areas where it occurs. The primary goal is to create a detailed map using this data to guide further remedial actions. Ground verification of all heat incidents captured by satellite imagery in Kapurthala district was conducted via GIS, enabling the development of satellite signatures for burnt fields. These images are currently undergoing re-evaluation this year to establish a more robust system.
Simultaneously, ITC concentrated on elevating farmer incomes in the district through its ‘Mission Sunhera Kal’. This intervention not only increased farmer earnings but also facilitated effective crop residue management with minimal environmental impact. Launched in 46 villages covering 18,760 acres, it has now expanded to four blocks, encompassing over 465 villages across 1.83 lakh acres, benefiting 15,900 farmers. The intervention has notably boosted farmers’ incomes by up to 25%. This programme was also successful in the last season (2022-23) wherein stubble burning was eliminated in 92.5% of the targeted 2.54 lakh acres.
Such programmes need to be adopted by all and scaled up. While addressing stubble burning is crucial, a range of interventions is necessary, from mechanising agriculture to embracing sustainable investment practices. Collaborative efforts and multifaceted strategies are pivotal.
One impactful way is by providing adequate support to sustainability-focused enterprises. Providing these businesses with accessible and affordable solutions can significantly aid their efforts in fighting climate change. This approach mirrors the initiatives of organisations like Clix Capital, established to offer crucial fundraising support to sectors that previously lacked access to credit from conventional lenders.
Apart from corporates, NGOs play a crucial role in combating climate change and biodiversity loss. The Raintree Foundation is working in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, empowering communities through practical solutions for environmental responsibility, balancing human well-being with ecosystem regeneration. An example of this is the use of biodigesters which effectively convert organic waste into valuable resources, concurrently reducing dependence on firewood and mitigating air pollution. Such tangible initiatives significantly address environmental concerns while empowering communities, particularly women, by eliminating the necessity for wood collection.
The issue of air pollution is intricate and multifaceted, demanding a comprehensive multi-pronged solution. While the government spearheads the overarching agenda, the emphasis should be on collaborating with various stakeholders genuinely committed to finding solutions. It is crucial to economically safeguard affected populations like farmers and bolster their productivity against the impacts of climate change. This empowerment enables them to contribute to eradicating practices like stubble burning. Additionally, implementing measures such as impact investing and engaging non-governmental organisations to engage in meaningful ecological interventions is vital. By amalgamating these efforts, a collective solution can be forged, ultimately resolving the recurring problem of air pollution.
Rameesh Kailasam & Dhiraj Gyani are CEO and senior director, policy & operations at IndiaTech.org, respectively.
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