Paying for Poison

Context:  Need for reforming the input subsidy regime and stop paying for poison.

Reasons for air pollution: particularly in Northern India.

• Geographical factors: In winter, the wind slows down and temperature drops that result in accumulation of suspended Particulate Matter (PM).
• Human factors: congested traffic, dust, construction, waste-burning, power generation, firecrackers.
• Agri-ecological factors:
• Burning of paddy stubble: can vary from 1% to 42% of the total pollution as per The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) readings.
• Increasing ammonia hotspots: due to fertilizer use, animal husbandry; ammonia can account for a quarter to a third of particulate matter pollution even in urban settings.
  • These are called ‘second particulates’ because they are formed by multiple direct, or primary, emissions (transport, agriculture) reacting in the atmosphere.
  • Excessive use: Urea, while being the cheapest form of fertilizer, is volatile in nature, leading to nitrogen loss and thereby excess use. (Ways to reduce nitrogen loss are expensive!)
• System of subsidies and open-ended procurement: Free power and water, along with open-ended procurement despite bulging stocks, have attracted paddy cultivation.

Effect of pollution on Agriculture:

• Losses in crop yield: According to some estimates, 30 % of India’s wheat yield is missing due to the two pollutants
• Ozone damages plant cells and handicaps photosynthesis.
• Particulate matter dims the sunlight that reaches crops.

Ways to reduce Agriculture related pollution:

• Diversification of crops:
• A diversification package: of Rs 10,000 crore spread over the next five years, equally contributed by the Centre and states shall be introduced.
• Provide investment subsidies instead of input subsidies: E.g. for the conversion of paddy areas to some other crops like orchards, vegetables and corn, that are more sustainable.
• Diversification should be based on demand-led: with a holistic framework of the value chain, from farm to fork.
• Encourage the private sector in building value chains. 
• Change subsidy mechanism: Give farmers input subsidy in cash on per hectare basis; this will be a crop-neutral way, making agriculture demand-driven and saving costs of carrying excessive stocks.
• Restriction in Government procurement: Restrict the  Government procurement of paddy from farmers burning stubble in their fields.

Conclusion: Taken together, these measures could double farmers’ incomes, promote efficiency in resource use, and reduce pollution — a win-win solution for all.