Farmers Blame Waterlogging For Stubble-Clearing Issues In Punjab's Fazlika

Punjab's battle against stubble burning has hit a peculiar geographical roadblock in its border district of Fazilka, where even farm machinery meant to manage paddy straw is proving ineffective.

With groundwater rising close to the surface and upward seepage keeping agricultural fields waterlogged, farmers say tractors, balers and other specialised equipment cannot operate in their fields, leaving them with few practical options to dispose of paddy residue without burning it.The problem came into focus during a visit by a team from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to Fazilka, as the commission stepped up inspections in Punjab amid worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR.

The team visited villages to assess stubble management arrangements, inspect the use of agricultural machinery and understand why farmers in certain areas continue to face difficulties in managing paddy straw.For farmers in waterlogged villages, however, the challenge is not necessarily the availability of machinery but the inability to operate it.