The key facts

  • Burning plant residues in fields is prohibited by law and carries a fine of up to 10 BRV.
  • Violations are detected using space monitoring by the Uzbekkosmos agency.
  • Instead of burning, it is recommended to use the residues for compost or feed.

Ban on burning plant residues and new control measures

The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change has officially warned farmers, dehkans and landowners that burning stubble, fallen leaves, branches and other plant residues in fields is unacceptable. According to the Committee, combustion releases toxic substances into the atmosphere, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, benzo(a)pyrene, dioxins and phosgene, causing direct harm to human health and the environment. In addition, high temperatures destroy macro- and microelements in the soil, reducing its fertility.

Fines and economic consequences

Burning grass in fields is directly prohibited by law. Violators face sanctions under the Code of Administrative Liability: the fine may reach up to ten times the basic calculated value, which is about 4.4 million sums. In addition to the administrative fine, additional economic measures are provided in the established procedure for damage caused to crop areas as a result of fire, calculated based on the amount of harm per hectare of land.

Mechanisms for detecting violations and alternatives

To promptly detect cases of stubble burning, the Ecology Committee cooperates with the Uzbekkosmos agency, which uses data from the state space monitoring to detect fire hotspots and take action against violators. Instead of destroying plant residues with fire, responsible officials recommend using them to make compost, mulch seedlings, or as livestock feed, which helps preserve nutrients in the soil and avoid fines.