In order to address the problem of air pollution brought on by the burning of stubble and crop residue in North India, holistic solutions must be developed. Talk about it. (Answer in 250 words)
British colonial policies had detrimental effects on Indian agriculture. Farmers faced economic hardships, loss of self-sufficiency, and reduced living standards. India's transition to an agrarian economy was marked by exploitation and disruption. Impact of British Colonial Policies on Indian AgricuRead more
British colonial policies had detrimental effects on Indian agriculture. Farmers faced economic hardships, loss of self-sufficiency, and reduced living standards. India’s transition to an agrarian economy was marked by exploitation and disruption.
Impact of British Colonial Policies on Indian Agriculture
- Forced Commercialization:
• The British implemented a policy of forced commercialization, where crops were grown primarily for sale rather than self-consumption.
• Traditional subsistence farming gave way to cash crops like indigo, opium, and cotton, which catered to British demand but disrupted food production.
• This shift led to a decline in food security and increased vulnerability to famines. - Land Revenue System:
• The Zamindari system introduced by the British exploited farmers.
• Zamindars collected rent from cultivators, leaving little profit for the farmers.
• This skewed land distribution and hindered agricultural growth. - Heavy Taxation:
• British policies imposed high taxes on Indian farmers.
• These taxes reduced farmers’ income and made it challenging to sustain profitable agriculture. - Destruction of Traditional Industries:
• The British deliberately destroyed India’s handicraft industry.
• Heavy tariffs on Indian-made goods and subsidies to British manufacturers disrupted the Indian economy.
• India shifted from a diversified economy to a colonial agrarian one. - Loss of Indigenous Knowledge:
• British agricultural practices were often unsuited to India’s climate.
• Traditional knowledge about local crops and farming techniques eroded.
• This negatively impacted crop yields and productivity.
Crop residue and stubble burning has long continued to be a perennial menace after the post-harvest of paddy in North Indian states especially Haryana, UP, Punjab and Rajasthan. The practice of stubble- burning is a chronic problem caused by the vicious wheat-paddy cycle, free power to run tube-wellRead more
Crop residue and stubble burning has long continued to be a perennial menace after the post-harvest of paddy in North Indian states especially Haryana, UP, Punjab and Rajasthan. The practice of stubble- burning is a chronic problem caused by the vicious wheat-paddy cycle, free power to run tube-wells and other subsidies on seeds and fertilisers even at the cost of precious subsoil water.
After harvesting of paddy, there is a short window of two to three weeks for farmers to ready their fields for the next crop, i.e. wheat. Consequently, they set the stubble on fire without bothering about the consequences.
This leads to following issues:
Though the government provides incentives and subsidised machines for small and marginal farmers and has also declared stringent measures such as Section 188 of the IPC and the Air and Pollution Control Act of 1981, stubble burning remains a major issue in North India. Therefore, diverse and holistic long-term solutions need to be devised, such as:
Practices like the Gram Panchayat of Balloh village in Bathinda, which had announced Rs. 500 per acre subsidy for not burning stubble in the fields can be emulated as a model practice. Coordinated efforts of all stakeholders and aggressive campaigning and awareness of ill-effects of stubble burning on human life and soil health among the farming community must go hand in hand.
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