Representation Image: AI-based Traditional Crop Residue Burning vs. Sustainable Practices
Work towards stopping crop residue burning with incentives and increased money support along with an extra effort most of the states reported major drops in cases of stubble burning including improved sustainable practice, observed various Union Ministers.
It is reported that the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with the Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, had met on 26 October 2024 to discuss a solution for the long-term issue of crop residue burning. The meeting witnessed key leaders in the sectors of agriculture and environment and included Agriculture Ministers from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, senior officers from the Central Pollution Control Board, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and other prominent departments.
State level initiatives and incentives to limit stubble burning
State representatives have discussed the moves taken to help farmers address paddy stubble appropriately without burning, which forms an essential factor that helped reduce crop residue burning to a significant level. Notable incentives include making bales of crop residue worth Rs 1,000 per acre besides the additional Rs 500/MT in areas identified by Indian Oil Corporation Limited for its 2G ethanol plant at Panipat. Its paddy straw standard rate has also been fixed at Rs2,500 per MT along with support for transportation up to Rs15,000 for the comfort of using bales of paddy straw by the gaushalas.
Besides, under the Haryana Mera Pani Meri Virasat programme, a one-time sum of Rs7,000 per acre is given for the shifting of crops from paddy crop. Haryana offers four thousand rupees an acre to the farmers undertaking direct seeding of rice. Results within the first few months also seem promising as preliminary news reports suggest a reduction in Punjab by 35 % and in Haryana 21% compared with same period last year.
Government of India’s Financial and Technological Support
The Government of India is funding the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme in Delhi and the National Capital Region to further tackle stubble burning. This CRM scheme aims at ensuring that the air quality of Delhi and the National Capital Region improves and pollution from the burning of crop residue is checked. From an allocation of Rs 600 crore, Rs 275 crore has already been given to states for this particular purpose. The scheme promotes in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management machines by providing funds to farmers, cooperatives, farmers’ producer organizations, and panchayats. The CRM scheme also focuses on awareness generation by three ICAR ATARIs and 60 KVKs.
With this advantage of bio-decomposer technology, the government is also encouraging large-scale demonstrations on farmers’ fields so that they can see the benefits of using bio-decomposers for in-situ decomposition of straw. The government has further supported this approach by making provisions for commercial projects on paddy straw supply chains to be provided to industries engaged in the generation of biomass power and biofuel. It offers financial support up to 65% with a cap at Rs1.5 crore per unit on machinery cost for the government to be able to encourage a consistent supply chain for paddy straw.
State-Level Action Plans for Effective Implementation
States have devised micro-level action plans to curb paddy stubble burning in the coming season. While over 3 lakh crop residue management machines have already been deployed, the states are being advised that these machines should be deployed appropriately. The machines should be deployed in tandem with bio-decomposer solutions, so as to decompose the paddy straw in-situ.
The states will also conduct massive IEC campaigns to increase the awareness of farmers about the importance of stubble management. The campaigns will be multi-channelled, involving print and electronic media, social media, Kisan Melas, seminars, and advisories. States have been advised to expand the availability of crop residue management machines at lower rental rates through Custom Hiring Centers to further support small landholders.
A Holistic Approach to Crop Diversification and Resource Utilization
States promote crop diversification so that the long-term benefits can be reaped. States should shift from paddy towards more sustainable alternatives. It also aims to prevent incidents of burning not only of paddy straw but also other agricultural and industrial wastes, and it will further decrease the level of pollution, which acutely hits the urban areas of Delhi.
Union Ministers Chouhan and Yadav appreciated the states for their efforts to reduce the crop residue burning incidents and called upon them to continue to work towards the objective of “Mission Zero Burning” that aims to ensure stubble burning is completely prevented by taking comprehensive state level action, technological interventions and community outreach.
