At 3.2k, Haryana records highest wheat stubble fire count in five years

Gurgaon: Haryana recorded the highest number of wheat residue burning incidents in the last five years during the ongoing harvesting season, with satellite data showing a sharp rise in farm fires since the last week of April.According to official monitoring data, the state recorded 3,279 fire incidents between April 1 and May 13 this year — more than double the 1,493 cases reported during the same period in 2025. The numbers also surpassed previous highs of 2,810 incidents in 2022 and 2,793 in 2024. In 2023, the count stood at 1,783 during the corresponding period.The cumulative trend graph showed incidents remained relatively low until around April 23 before rising sharply through early May. By May 13, the 2026 trend line overtook all previous years, marking the steepest year-on-year increase recorded in the last five years.Officials said the fires were largely linked to wheat stubble burning after harvesting operations, as farmers clear fields ahead of the next crop cycle. Wheat harvesting in Haryana begins in April, while residue burning cases are typically reported till the end of May.Jind recorded the highest number of incidents at 487, followed by Rohtak (425), Jhajjar (323) and Sonipat (299). Kaithal reported 252 incidents, Sirsa 248, Fatehabad 246 and Hisar 229.Among other districts, Karnal recorded 196 incidents compared to 100 during the same period last year, while Panipat reported 170 against 57 in 2025. Kurukshetra recorded 72 incidents compared to 41 last year, and Bhiwani reported 87 against 30.In NCR districts, Gurgaon recorded 24 wheat stubble fire incidents after reporting none during the same period last year. Faridabad reported 25 incidents compared to six in 2025, while Palwal recorded 43 against 13. Mewat also reported 13 incidents after recording none last year.Agriculture department officials attributed the increase to dry weather conditions and post-harvest field-clearing practices.“Most of these fire counts are linked to wheat residue burning after harvesting. Dry weather conditions and higher temperatures this season may have contributed to the increase,” an agriculture department official said.Another official said district administrations were directed to intensify awareness campaigns on crop residue management. “Teams are conducting field visits and sensitisation drives to discourage stubble burning and encourage use of crop residue management machinery,” the official said.Environmental experts cautioned that although wheat stubble burning is generally less severe than the paddy-burning season later in the year, the sharp rise in incidents could still worsen local air quality.“Wheat stubble burning is increasingly demanding policy attention alongside paddy fires. Since April 1, over 12,000 satellite-detected farm fires have been recorded across Punjab and Haryana alone. The CAQM’s 11-point directive on wheat stubble management is a welcome step and should target the underlying economic driver,” said Kurinji Kemanth, programme lead, CEEW.“Wheat straw was historically valued as livestock fodder, but shifts in agricultural practices and livestock patterns have steadily eroded its economic value in recent years, pushing farmers to resort to burning,” she said, adding that targeted measures such as improving inter-state fodder trade, mapping fodder-surplus and deficit regions, and ensuring timely availability of residue management machinery were needed to prevent wheat residue burning from escalating into a crisis similar to paddy stubble burning.The data also showed that 2025 recorded the lowest fire count among the five years analysed, while 2026 witnessed the sharpest spike within a short period. Experts said districts that repeatedly report high fire counts require closer monitoring and stronger residue management interventions.