Burning of Crop Straw Should Be Banned Without Crude and Harsh Measures

Recently, while conducting interviews in the countryside, as soon as I left the county town, I was greeted by bright red banners hung across the streets and slogans pasted on trees and walls banning straw burning, reminding farmers everywhere not to burn crop straw.

Admittedly, the ban is meant to protect the environment and reduce air pollution. Using banners and the like can serve as a constant reminder, and the local government's intentions are good. But in some places, the language is too harsh, such as "Whoever burns straw and starts a fire will go to prison," "A puff of smoke in the field means 15 days in detention," "Burn straw, go to jail," and so on, which are jarring to the eye. Some farmers also said that the ban on straw burning has been publicized for several years now, and they are well aware of the reasons behind it. Using such cold language during the autumn and wheat seasons inevitably makes people feel uncomfortable.

The reason farmers burn straw is that there is no suitable way to deal with it. To achieve a complete ban, we must address the root of the problem: first, find scientific ways to handle straw; second, promote scientific agricultural production methods to reduce pollution from traditional farming; third, strengthen publicity of the regulations related to the straw burning ban to win farmers' understanding and support.

In the specific process of publicity, "crude and harsh" working methods should be avoided. Because blindly using tough measures to ban straw burning may backfire. In my view, education on the straw burning ban should also be warm and gentle, "moving people with emotion and reasoning with them," so that farmers willingly and voluntarily refrain from burning straw.