Little benefit, much harm from burning straw and stubble

During harvest days, passing through Tien Lu, Phu Cu, An Thi districts or right in Hung Yen city, it is easy to see white smoke covering the fields. That is straw smoke - the result of people's habit of burning agricultural by-products after harvest. This seemingly harmless habit actually has many serious consequences for public health and the living environment.

Straw and stubble were burned indiscriminately, white smoke covered the fields and the northern main road of Pho Hien University.

Burning straw: Convenient but harmful in the long run
“After the harvester finishes, the straw is left on the roots. I dry it for a day or two and then burn it, it’s faster. We don’t use straw for cooking, nor do we raise cows, so what’s the point of it?” Mr. Le Van Tam, a farmer in Trung Nghia commune, Hung Yen city, frankly shared.
Mr. Tam’s view is not uncommon. For many farmers, burning straw is a simple, time-saving and labor-saving way to clear the fields and prepare for the next crop. They even believe that this method also helps kill residual pests in the soil. However, behind that white smoke is a series of negative long-term impacts.
Smoke from burning straw contains many pollutants such as CO₂, CO and PM2.5 fine dust – microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing pneumonia, asthma, and even cardiovascular disease. According to experts, PM2.5 is an “invisible killer” in the air, especially dangerous for children, the elderly and people with underlying diseases.
Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Thanh, living in An Tao ward, Hung Yen city, was upset: “During the rice harvest, every afternoon I have to close the doors and turn on the air conditioner all the time. The whole family has difficulty breathing because of the straw smoke. The pungent smell sticks to clothes and bedding, making food taste bad.”
Not only does it pollute the air, the thick smoke also reduces visibility and threatens traffic safety, especially on inter-village and inter-commune roads that cut across fields. Moreover, burning straw also causes the soil to lose its natural organic layer, become dry, infertile, and difficult to retain moisture, reducing crop yields in the long run.

Farmers in An Vien commune (Tien Lu) burn straw on their fields.

Lacking solutions, people still "burn for convenience"
Although many people are aware of the harmful effects of straw smoke, the reality is that they still do not have suitable alternatives. Many households do not have the conditions to buy or rent straw rolling and pressing machines. The reuse of straw for purposes such as mushroom cultivation, composting or biofuel is still fragmented, lacking stable output. In particular, in many localities, propaganda work is still ineffective, failing to reach the inherent habits of farmers.

The amount of straw collected is still small and manual.

According to Decree No. 45/2022/ND-CP of the Government , the act of burning crop residues in residential areas, airports or main traffic routes can be fined from 2.5 to 3 million VND. However, in reality, the fine is almost not implemented, making the legal regulations not strong enough to deter.
Some models have shown clear effectiveness in replacing the habit of burning straw. For example, the model coordinated by the Hung Yen Provincial Agricultural Extension Center in a number of communes. Participating farmers were trained in techniques and supported with the product Sumitri - a biological preparation used to treat straw right in the field. The results showed that straw and stubble decomposed quickly, the soil was more porous, the rice plants grew better, and the cost of using pesticides was also significantly reduced.

Most straw and stubble are still wasted or burned spontaneously.

However, this model has not been widely replicated. Partly because people are still afraid to change their habits, partly because of lack of funding and specific support mechanisms. To thoroughly solve the problem of straw smoke, there needs to be drastic and synchronous participation from many sides such as: Extensive propaganda, especially at the grassroots level, it is necessary to coordinate with associations and organizations to organize direct propaganda sessions in the fields, distribute leaflets, and show videos instructing on how to handle straw without dust and smoke; support farmers to access straw rolling and pressing machines, straw cutting machines, as well as connecting output for products processed from straw; encourage circular economy through cooperatives to collect and process straw into fertilizer, fuel, bedding, construction materials or mushroom growing materials; apply reasonable sanctions, strengthen inspection and supervision in localities, strictly handle acts of burning straw that affect the living environment and community safety.
Giving up a deeply ingrained habit is not easy. But if we continue to “burn for convenience”, we are unintentionally turning fertile fields into places of pollution. In the context of increasingly severe climate change, changing the way we handle straw after harvest is not just a choice but an urgent requirement. Keeping the fields clean, for fresh air and for public health – it is time to give up the old, move to new ways of doing things, more friendly to the environment and to our own lives.

Vi Ngoan

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/loi-it-hai-nhieu-tu-viec-dot-rom-ra-3181862.html