Project Status | Full Research (FR) |
Duration | Oct. 2018 - Mar. 2025 |
Research Program | Co-creation of the Sustainable Future based on the Linkage of the Earth-human System |
Project No. | 14200133 |
Project Title | An Interdisciplinary Study toward Clean Air, Public Health and Sustainable Agriculture: The Case of Crop Residue Burning in North India |
Abbreviated Title | Aakash Project |
Project Leader | PATRA K. Prabir |
URL | https://aakash-rihn.org/ |
Research purpose and content
Objectives: In the northwest Indian region (including the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana), large quantities of rice straw are openly burnt after the harvest, which releases large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere. The impact of these air pollutants extends to the National Capital Region of Delhi (referred to as Delhi NCR). This study explores avenues for changing people's behaviour of rice straw burning and shift to sustainable agriculture in the region for clean air and improved health outcomes. In particular, the impact of straw burning on air pollution in the vicinity of Delhi NCR will be quantified and the scientific basis will be clarified by determining the distribution of air pollutants from straw burning over this wide area. The impact of air pollution from straw burning on human health will be assessed, and the health awareness will be raised among the citizens for promotion of educated actions. Various options will be also examined for the effective use of straw to create new business model frameworks.
Background: Severe air pollution has spread worldwide, particularly in the developing countries. India is one of the most severely affected countries in terms of the number of deaths due to air pollution. The Punjab region, located in northwest India, is a significant food production centre in India. However, large-scale rice straw burning after the Kharif harvest results in severe air pollution in the surrounding areas. Recently, there have been concerns that the impact reaches the densely populated Delhi NCR. The problem has been highlighted as one of the most critical global environmental issues internationally for several years, more specifically since 2016. Furthermore, the situation has been closely linked to the decline in the groundwater table and has attracted attention from the perspective of securing water resources. New policies to avoid straw burning are currently being promoted with funding from the central government, but straw burning has yet to be reduced. As mentioned above, this issue is one of the global environmental problems attracting international attention, and several related studies have been conducted so far in atmospheric chemistry and agricultural sciences. In this context, this study is tackling the issue in a cross-disciplinary manner. In particular, no other research group is trying to link the change in health awareness of the community residents to their behavioural change.
The global environmental problem to be solved is open 'rice straw burning problem in Northern India'. This project will (1) clarify the extent of air pollution caused by straw burning, the areas where it occurs, and the factors that contribute to its occurrence, (2) promote awareness-raising among local residents by assessing the health hazards caused to them by these air pollutants, (3) propose specific measures for the effective use of rice straw and recommend a way of transformation toward sustainable agriculture based on the current situation, including the decline of groundwater and soil degradation, (4) analyse the local culture and the social context that causes straw burning behaviour, and (5) disseminate research findings to government agencies, local communities and local residents to encourage new policies and changes in daily behaviour. The project is characterised by (1) being transdisciplinary research by a fusion of humanity, and social and natural sciences research, and (2) proposes a novel approach that had not been used locally before: 'monitoring the distribution of air pollutants, health hazard surveys and raising residents' awareness'. When this project started, there were little concern about air pollution in the rural areas, and even lesser awareness that straw burning causes serious air pollution. To change people's awareness, we needed to provide scientific evidence first. While previous measures to reduce straw burning have been slow to take off, this study, which focuses on the health hazards to residents, was supported by researchers and bureaucrats in Punjab. Furthermore, along with a review of cropping systems that are biased towards rice and wheat, the project is also trying to propose the creation of a concrete business model while examining how to respond to new policies, such as the 2021 government policy of 'co-firing biomass fuels in thermal power plants’. Ultimately, the aim is to provide a realistic pathway for farmers to convert to sustainable agriculture without compromising on their livelyhood.
Challenges and achievements for this year
1. Intensive observation campaign by CUPI network (2022-2023): proving the link with air pollution in Delhi NCR with crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana
The rice straw burning season is from September to November, following the harvesting of the Kharif crops. Thirty-two CUPI-G units (measuring gases and PM2.5 simultaneously) and eight smaller P-sensors (measuring only PM2.5) were deployed at the sites in rural areas and in the Delhi NCR. About 30 people from the Japanese and Indian research communites participated in the measurement campaigns, ably supported by the satellite data analysts and chemistry-transport modellers. A Slack workspace for the campaign was set up to exchange information in near-real time, and online meetings were held every Saturday in September to November of 2022 and 2023.
Rice straw burning begin to increase rapidly at the end of October in most parts of Punjab, although the intensity is observed to be higher in the southern part compared to the northern part. Meanwhile, air pollution conditions deteriorate rapidly in the Delhi NCR from late October to early November. In both 2022 and 2023 schools were closed in some districts; the worst AQI (Air Quality Index) index of SEVERE continued for several days. Our observations reveal a rapid increase in PM2.5 and CO concentrations and rapid deterioration in air quality over a wide area from southern Punjab to Haryana and Delhi NCR. The fact that the deterioration of air pollution in New Delhi is not an independent phenomenon in the city alone. This is ground-breaking because it is the first time that field measurements have been able to clearly show a large-scale phenomenon of air-pollution in this area without any gap, which could have a significant impact on the local residents. First paper describing 2022 measurements of PM2.5 are published by T. Singh et al. (2023). This is being be followed by modelling simulations to achieve the ultimate goal of estimating the impact of crop residue burning on air pollution in Delhi NCR quantitatively.
2. Analysis of long-term variation in fire detection and comparison of questionnaire results
Based on observations from satellites, we proceeded with a long-term analysis of fire detection and confirmed that, as previously known, 1) the timing of rice straw burning was delayed after 2009, when the Groundwater Act was proclaimed, and 2) the fire counts show an increasing trend in long term until 2016, but show a decrease in 2017-2019, when government provided subsidies and strengthened crackdowns strictly. Afterwards, an increase in fire counts is shown in 2020 and 2021 in Punjab and in 2021 in Haryana. That is considered to be related to the decrease in migrant workers and the easing of crackdowns due to the COVID19 pandemic, and most importantly the farmer’s protest to the Farm Bill that was introduced in September 2020. Furthermore, it is confirmed that straw burning was significantly delayed, possibly due to unexpected heavy rainfall in the post-monsoon season in 2022.
On the other hand, a survey of rural communities revealed that the number of users of large agricultural machinery (e.g., Happy Seeder, ) is increasing in various districts of Punjab, and a decrease in the fire counts observed by satellites was also found. In addition to the paper-based questionnaire survey, online interviews are conducted since January 2022. In October 2022, and in February, June, August and September 2023, the WG1a members went to the field to conduct face-to-face interviews. The results showed that the presence of straw burning varied greatly from field-to-field depending on various socio-economic factors, e.g., land ownership/rental, high production cost as well as socio-cultural factors, e.g., relationship with stakeholders, rice variety selection, relationships among cultural groups, and ownership of rice straw management machinery.
3. Review of in-situ and ex-situ rice straw management in Punjab
Punjab State produces 40 megatons of rice straw, most of which is burned. With the aim of reducing straw burning, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) conducted an extensive review study on in-situ rice straw management and published the results in a 60-page report. Professor Vatta (PAU), a member of the Indian side, played a major role in writing this report, reflecting discussions and information sharing among the project. The review study organise the issues from a broad perspective toward the reduction of rice straw burning for the project.
To achieve carbon neutrality, the Indian Ministry of Power (MoP) amended its existing policy on biomass use in 2021, making coal-based thermal power plants to use at least 5% biomass briquettes/pellets, which are mainly made from agricultural residues. We have organised the 'Study Group of Rice Straw Utilisation as Biomass fuel' with the Ministry of Environment and JICA, and we held seminars on the Aakash project during the Indo-Japan Environment Week on 13 January 2023, and a series of meetings in the past one year (ref. Presentations). This is deepening our discussions on the effective use of rice straw with various stakeholders.
4. Launch of field experiments at the Lovely Professional University
The Lovely Professional University (LPU) in India, with which we concluded an MoU in FY2021, has started field experiments to cultivate alternative crops to rice in the field. Project members have travelled from Japan several times to conduct soil analysis, provide advice on planting, and engage in active research exchanges. The cultivation experiment will continue in the final year of the project, possibly with the involvement of local farmers. Aakash team members are actively involved in preparation of biochar from rice straw and rice husk, which are them applied to the experimental fields at varied amount. Green papaya trees and turmeric are planted in rows of trees and/or shrubs to create alleys within which crops are produced (alley cropping). Field experiments are performed by applying different biochars to estimate GHG emission reduction potential for quantification of co-benefits of mitigating air pollution and climate change.
Future tasks
1) The COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred at the same time as the FR started, had an enormous impact on the project. The details of the field test plan and questionnaire survey conducted through online discussions and limited implementation by local researchers. As a solution, we have taken all possible measures, including outsourcing work to local non-profit organisations, strengthening links with local collaborators, and actively communicating through online meetings, webinars, email and slack. It was not until FR3 (2022) that Indian post-doc researchers were able to enter Japan. Finally, in the middle of FR3, it became possible to travel to Japan. Field surveys and intensive observations were carried out for the first time in the straw burning season of September to November 2022. The past couple of years have been immensely rewarding our the Aakash team on gathering information, consolidating observational and survey data, and moving towards peer-reviewed publications. We are expecting completion of several key publications in this year.
2) Following the success of CUPI campaigns in 2022 and 2023 crop residue burning season, we are planning to return to the field for 3rd year in a row. This unique opportunity cannot be missed. The PL personally believe that such an achievement will be appreciated in the scientific community in the years and decades to come. We are already sharing and exchanging observational data of air pollutants with various colleagues.
3) In the final year of the project, we will hold an international workshop involving core members of the Aakash project and a few invited guest scientists, during 28-30 August 2024. In the week, we will be able to discuss the final outcomes of our research by the three Working Groups, and going forward decide on a framework to summarise results for the Aakash project as a whole over the final 6 months.