Srinagar: Agriculture Department Kashmir has rebutted recent media reports suggesting widespread mustard stubble burning in Kashmir, asserting that the depiction is exaggerated and not reflective of current agricultural practices.
The response comes after a recent report titled “Mustard stubble burning turns Kashmir highway into smoke corridor”, published in a local English newspaper, painted what officials describe as an alarmist and unverified portrayal of the Anantnag-to-Pampore highway shrouded in smoke from stubble burning.
According to Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Mohammad Iqbal, the instances of mustard stubble burning in the district remain isolated and insignificant in scale. He noted that no widespread visibility issues or respiratory health complaints linked to stubble burning have been officially reported.
“While Pulwama did record a bumper mustard harvest this season, the majority of stubble is used as mulch, not burnt,” Iqbal said. He added that mulching — a method where crop residues are left on the field to decompose — is widely adopted in the Valley and contributes to soil fertility, moisture conservation, and weed suppression.
Unlike paddy or maize, mustard stubble is not stored for fodder, as it is not consumed by livestock. This, according to agriculture experts, makes it suitable for incorporation into the soil, a practice now recognised for its sustainability and contribution to long-term soil health.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Mohammad Ilyas Khateeb, also weighed in, emphasizing that the department has been proactively engaging with farmers across districts during the harvesting season. “Our field-level officers are continuously educating farmers about the agronomic and environmental benefits of mulching and the harms of burning crop residues. These efforts are already being implemented,” he said.
Khateeb further added that the recommendations cited by commentators in the article are not novel, and most are part of the Department’s ongoing awareness and sustainability efforts. “There is no need for alarm. The situation is well under control and our outreach with farmers remains consistent,” he said.
The department also highlighted that no credible data links recent mustard stubble burning to an uptick in respiratory illnesses, as implied in the report. “Drawing such correlations without robust data is scientifically unsound,” said an official from the field extension wing.
The Agriculture Department reiterated its commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and advised media platforms to exercise due diligence and consult scientific sources before issuing reports that may mislead the public or misrepresent the farming community.
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