By Debaraj Sahoo
The growing mechanised harvesting of paddy in rural Odisha has significantly improved agricultural productivity. It has reduced dependence on manual labour, shortened harvesting time, and helped farmers cope with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. However, in the absence of sustainable residue disposal and input management practices, this shift has begun to generate environmental challenges that require urgent attention.
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In recent years, Delhi has emerged as a cautionary example of how unchecked crop residue burning can severely degrade air quality and threaten public health. Seasonal smog episodes in the national capital demonstrate how agricultural practices, when combined with other emissions, can push pollution levels beyond safe limits. While Odisha does not yet face pollution levels of similar severity, early warning signs are becoming visible during post-harvest periods in several districts.
One major factor contributing to this trend is the declining usefulness of paddy residues in rural households. Traditionally, paddy straw served multiple purposes, including cattle fodder, compost, roofing material, and domestic fuel. However, the steady decline of household cattle due to changing livelihoods and rural migration has reduced these traditional uses.
Changes in household energy practices have further reinforced this shift. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has successfully reduced dependence on biomass fuels, improving indoor air quality and household well-being. At the same time, reduced domestic use of agricultural residues has led to their accumulation in fields. During short turnaround periods between crops, open burning has emerged as the quickest and most accessible disposal method.
Air pollution from stubble burning is only one part of a broader environmental challenge. Groundwater pollution caused by excessive and often unregulated use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is an equally serious but less visible concern. In the pursuit of higher yields, chemical inputs are frequently applied without adequate guidance on dosage or long-term impact. Over time, these substances leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater, affecting drinking water sources and soil fertility. This form of pollution accumulates slowly but persistently, posing risks to human health, agricultural sustainability, and local ecosystems.
Several national programmes, including PM-PRANAM, the Soil Health Card Scheme, the National Integrated Pest Management Programme, the Namo Drone Didi Scheme, and the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, reflect policy intent to encourage balanced fertilizer use and reduced dependence on chemical pesticides. However, the effectiveness of such initiatives ultimately depends on how well awareness and practical knowledge reach the grassroots level.
Addressing these challenges requires moving beyond enforcement and focusing on practical, economically viable alternatives. One promising approach is to encourage small-scale and cottage industries to use paddy residues as raw material. With appropriate technological support and targeted subsidies, paddy straw can be converted into biodegradable products such as disposable plates, bowls, and cups. Creating assured demand by encouraging government offices, educational institutions, and public facilities to use these products can help build sustainable markets while reducing plastic waste.
Another effective intervention is the wider promotion of bio-decomposer solutions that can be sprayed on crop residues to accelerate natural decomposition. These biodegradable formulations allow stubble to break down within a short period, enabling timely field preparation without burning.
The centrally sponsored Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme provides a framework to support such efforts through both in-situ and ex-situ residue management. Effective utilisation of this mechanism, combined with simplified access and region-specific planning, can reduce operational burden on farmers. Long-term sustainability will also depend on innovation tailored to local conditions.
Technical universities and research institutions in Odisha can play a vital role in developing alternative technologies for using paddy residues in household applications, construction materials, energy generation, or soil improvement. Stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and farming communities can help translate research into practical solutions.
Odisha stands at a critical stage in its agricultural transition. Mechanisation and modern inputs have improved productivity, but they must be complemented by responsible residue management, soil protection, and water quality preservation. Without timely and coordinated action, the combined challenges of air and groundwater pollution could intensify in the coming decades.
Agricultural progress and environmental protection need not be competing goals. The choices made today will determine whether Odisha moves toward a cleaner, more resilient future or faces escalating environmental stress for generations to come.
The writer is a Researcher, Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability, Nagoya University, Japan.
