An Empirical Study on Farmers' Risk Perception of Crop Residue Burning

Crop residues play an integral role in sustaining traditional rural industries, including rice mills, brick kilns, and potteries, where they serve as an essential feedstock. Unfortunately, due to the lack of proper management, eco-friendly disposal methods, and safe handling practices, a substantial quantity of surplus crop residue, was openly burned in agricultural fields. The present study aims to analyze the risk perception of farmers towards crop residue burning. To collect the data, the questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of 250 respondents, out of these, 200 responses met the criteria for validity and were subsequently subjected to comprehensive analysis through various statistical techniques utilizing software tools such as MS Excel and SPSS. It was observed that there is the risk of health-related issues, increased medical expenses, reduction in assets or production, the potential for social disputes or conflicts, and environmental concerns due to crop residue burning. It was suggested that the associated issues require a multifaceted approach involving public awareness, policy changes, community engagement, research, support for alternatives, and collaborative efforts to find sustainable solutions.