Stubble fires leave trail of death and environmental damage in Telangana

Siddipet: Farm mechanisation was introduced to improve agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on manual labour. However, some of the unscientific practices that have accompanied increased mechanisation in Telangana are now emerging as serious threats to both farmers and the environment. One such practice is paddy stubble burning, which was virtually unheard of in Telangana until four or five years ago. The widespread use of combine harvesters has significantly reduced the need for human labour in...