- Delhi has been grappling for air as AQI levels continue to rise in the city.
- Chairman of Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra posted a video suggesting “Regenerative Agriculture” to be put to use as an alternative to stubble burning that led to worsening air quality in the national capital Delhi and its adjoining regions.
- “To heal Delhi’s pollution, regenerative agriculture must be given a chance. It provides a remunerative alternative to stubble burning while simultaneously increasing soil productivity.” He said.
- According to the World Economic Forum, Regenerative Agriculture is a way of farming that focuses on soil health.
- According to the UN, one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions globally are because of agriculture and the damaged soil further making the environment vulnerable.
- Meanwhile, the Supreme Court directed the state governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to ensure crop residue burning was stopped “forthwith”.
India’s capital city, New Delhi has been in the news for the rising pollution and AQI levels that have been extremely hazardous, making its residents feel as if they are choking, and struggling to breathe. The AQI levels have consistently been bad and have been swaying between the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories. Keeping in mind the poor conditions, the state government has imposed a lot of restrictions including suspension of physical classes for several grades, shifting to work-from-home mode for multiple offices, and other traffic restrictions. Amid the rising politician, businessman, and chairman of the Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra has suggested a solution to Delhi’s Air Pollution as the city struggles to breathe.
Mahindra has spoken about an alternative to stubble burning which is considered a major, rather primary cause for the increased and hazardous AQI levels. Speaking about ‘Regenerative Agriculture’. Anand Mahindra shared a post on the social media platform ‘X’ which said, “To heal Delhi’s pollution, Regenerative Agriculture MUST be given a chance. It provides a remunerative alternative to stubble burning while simultaneously increasing soil productivity.” Further, Anand Mahindra has also mentioned an organization which can help in implementing the solution.
According to the World Economic Forum, Regenerative Agriculture is a way of farming that focuses on soil health. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition, stores more carbon, and increases biodiversity – the variety of species. Regenerative Agriculture is needed because today, agriculture includes a lot of heavy machinery fertilizers, and pesticides to increase food production; this has caused soil degradation and loss. According to the UN, one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions globally are because of agriculture and the damaged soil further making the environment vulnerable.
Despite several measures being implemented by the Kejriwal government, the air quality in the national capital remained in the severe category with the AQI standing at 452 in Anand Vihar. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said the air quality across Delhi continues to be in the ‘Severe’ category. AQI in Anand Vihar stood at 452, in RK Puram at 433, in Punjabi Bagh at 460, and in ITO at 413, according to the latest updates from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court directed the state governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to ensure crop residue burning was stopped “forthwith”, saying it cannot let “people die” due to pollution.
(With inputs from agencies)
