SRINAGAR: The Department of Agriculture Kashmir has strongly rebutted recent media reports portraying rampant mustard stubble burning along the Anantnag-Pampore highway as an environmental crisis, terming the claims exaggerated and lacking factual basis.
In response to an article titled “Mustard stubble burning turns Kashmir highway into smoke corridor” published in Greater Kashmir, officials clarified that no widespread smoke hazards or visibility issues have been documented. “The depiction of ‘heavenly blankets of smoke’ is misleading. Mustard stubble burning remains sporadic and negligible in scale,” said Mohammad Iqbal, Chief Agriculture Officer, Pulwama in a statement issued here.
“Contrary to these claims, no widespread smoke corridors or visibility hazards have been reported or witnessed. Nor has there been any surge in respiratory complaints specifically attributed to mustard stubble burning. Linking a few localised burning incidents to broader COPD statistics without robust data is scientifically tenuous,” it added.
“While Pulwama did record a bumper harvest, the instances of stubble burning remain isolated and insignificant in scale. Most of the mustard stubble is used as mulch—a common practice that improves soil fertility, conserves moisture, and suppresses weed growth. This practice is eco-friendly and agriculturally beneficial, not detrimental. Unlike paddy or maize stubble, which is carefully preserved and stored for winter fodder, mustard stubble is not used as fodder because cattle do not consume it,” the department said. “This distinguishes it from other crop residues and necessitates a different management approach. The majority of mustard stubble is incorporated into the soil as mulch, a well-established and sustainable practice that reduces the need for synthetic inputs and enhances long-term soil health.”
The Department of Agriculture said it has not remained passive. “Field-level officers have been regularly engaging with farmers during the harvesting season. Farmers are being actively educated about the environmental and agronomic benefits of mulching and are discouraged from any burning practices,” it said.
The department is committed to promoting environmentally friendly disposal of agricultural waste, and the recommendations provided by so-called “experts” in the article are already being implemented on the ground, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Mohammad Ilyas Khateeb, said in the statement.