With the harvesting season drawing to a close and 2,306 procurement centres across Punjab shut, the state is witnessing a sharp surge in farm fire incidents, particularly from wheat residue burning.Out of the 3,690 stubble burning incidents reported so far this season, 2,272 — over 61 per cent — have been recorded in the past five days, indicating a sudden spike.The daily count, which had been hovering in double digits, surged towards the end of April, with over 300 fires being reported each day despite intermittent rain, thunderstorms and cloud cover.On May 1, the state reported 341 incidents, followed by a season-high of 644 cases on May 2. The numbers remained high thereafter, with 417, 447 and 423 incidents reported on May 3, 4 and 5, respectively.Sangrur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has recorded the highest number of incidents at 432, followed by Ferozepur (408), Bathinda (317) and Tarn Taran (312).In a notable shift, wheat residue burning — traditionally less prevalent than paddy stubble burning — is emerging as a growing concern.Farmers cite not only operational convenience but also a desire for “visually clean” fields as a reason for the practice.“Parali zamain ch khilri changi nahi lagdi” (scattered residue does not look appealing), is a commonly cited sentiment among cultivators, who prefer finely tilled fields that appear neat and cultivated.However, experts warn that this trend carries serious environmental consequences. Agronomists at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) refute the belief that wheat residue hampers paddy cultivation.“There is no scientific evidence that wheat residue affects paddy growth. In fact, incorporating it into the soil improves fertility and reduces dependence on chemical fertilisers,” said Dr Hari Ram, Principal Agronomist (Wheat), PAU.Historical data indicates fluctuating trends in farm fires, with 14,511 incidents reported in 2022, 11,355 in 2023, 11,904 in 2024, and 10,207 in 2025.Other wheat-growing states are also not lagging behind. Madhya Pradesh (MP) tops the country with 34,123 farm fire incidents, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 13,944 incidents, while Haryana has reported 2,683 incidents of residue burning.