BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) - China has issued an urgent ban on farmers burning crop stubble around the nation's capital after days of eye-watering haze that provoked complaints from national leaders.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a directive issued late on Thursday that the pollution had provoked the country's Communist Party leadership to complain.

"Recently in some areas, especially around Beijing, the problem of widespread burning of crop stalks has recurred, causing heavy air pollution in Beijing," said the order quoted by the China News Service.

"Central leading comrades take this seriously and issued instructions demanding strengthened management and guidance."

On still days over the past week, Beijing's air has been a muggy cocktail of car fumes, grime and acrid haze that officials have blamed on the crop burn-off.

Farmers in northern China often grow two crops a year, and in past weeks many of them have been clearing fields for second plantings of wheat and other grains.

The ministry said that instead of burning the stalks left after harvest, farmers should use them for compost and livestock feed.

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