From fields to policy: analyzing the interplay between technology adoption and residue burning in Punjab, India

Abstract
Crop residue burning (CRB) remains a major environmental challenge in India’s rice–wheat system, contributing to air pollution and soil degradation. This study provides new empirical evidence on the joint decision-making process underlying farmers’ adoption of crop residue management (CRM) machinery and their residue-burning behavior. Using household survey data from Punjab and bivariate probit models, we identify structural, behavioural, and spatial determinants shaping both choices. The results show a significant and negative correlation of unobserved factors between CRM adoption and burning, indicating that both are jointly influenced by shared production constraints such as limited turnaround time, cost of cultivation, and field accessibility. The correlation is more negative for complete burners and weaker for partial burners, suggesting distinct structural and behavioural contexts that require differentiated interventions. While larger farmers adopt more CRM machinery yet continue burning for efficiency, smallholders face access barriers and equipment incompatibility. These findings highlight that technological access alone is insufficient; effective policy must pair equitable machinery access and spatial infrastructure with behavioural and institutional measures that promote sustained no-burn practices.