A study by the Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using data captured by European geostationary satellites has reported a gradual shift in peak farm-fire activity in Punjab and Haryana from the early afternoon to early evening over the five years beginning 2020.

While official data show a steady decline in incidents of farm fires in both states over this period, the ISRO study suggests these falling numbers could in fact reflect an “underestimation of active fire events during October-November in Punjab and Haryana”.

The data on farm fire incidents reported by government agencies such as the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and various state remote sensing centres is based on information mapped by sun-synchronou

See Full Page