Mustard stubble burning turns Kashmir highway into smoke corridor

Srinagar, May 28: Layers and layers of thick smoke appear like heavenly blankets over the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway from Anantnag to Pampore, albeit these surreal blankets blind and choke everyone who passes by.

The smoke from mustard harvest stubble burning is a brewing concern in Kashmir, given the high COPD burden here, with studies showing elevated rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease linked to prolonged exposure to such pollutants.

Kashmir has a serious smoke issue in autumn due to seasonal agricultural burning and biomass combustion, and the emerging pollutant adds to the risks.

Now even the early summer air has been defiled with the acrid smell of burning mustard stubble.

The farmers are preparing their fields for paddy plantation set to start soon in many parts of Kashmir.

This requires the fields to be free of residues of earlier plantations.

Previously, the stubble was dislodged from the soil and ploughed into it to enhance soil fertility.

However, many farmers have now resorted to burning stubble to reduce costs associated with its ploughing or transportation.

Experts urge the practice be discouraged and farmers be assisted in the adoption of alternatives like mulcher, bil-enzyming, and composting.

These are being adopted in many places to address the environmental and health hazards of biomass burning.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, noted pulmonologist and HoD Pulmonology, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, Dr Naveed Nazir Shah said stubble burning was a new practice in Kashmir.

ìWe had the problem of people burning leaves, twigs, and weeds in autumn, but the mustard waste was not burnt. This is an emerging issue and needs a multi-stakeholder approach,î he said.

Dr Shah said it was important to tell farmers how the smoke was a grave issue, first and foremost to their health, and then to that of others.

ìIn addition, farmers need an alternate stubble disposal technique that is also economically viable,î he said. ìMoreover, such mass scale production of smoke is seemingly getting unnoticed by the pollution control authorities.î

Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Muhammad Ilyas Khateeb told Greater Kashmir that reports of stubble burning had come to the notice of his department.

Khateeb said he would ensure that a programme is devised to ensure the environmental-friendly disposal of agriculture waste.

Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Muhammad Iqbal said mustard cultivation was not very extensive in Kashmir and therefore the issue of stubble burning was also not widespread. ìWe are still in the process of educating farmers of better means of getting rid of stubble while ensuring it does not cause a problem,î he said.

In 2025, south Kashmir witnessed a ìbumperî mustard harvest. Anantnag was at the top with 28,690 hectares under cultivation and a yield of 34,427 metric tons (MT), followed by Pulwama with 18,756.7 hectares giving 18,756.7 MT.

Kulgam had 11,761 hectares under cultivation yielding 14,115.7 MT, while Shopian had 1899 hectares with 2368 MT.