Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, today chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, on stubble management and its permanent solution.

The meeting reviewed the progress made under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme and the preparedness of states for effective management of paddy stubble during the upcoming harvesting season.

The Union Agriculture Minister said that stubble burning not only pollutes the environment but also affects the health of Mother Earth. It destroys beneficial insects, reduces soil fertility and has an adverse impact on public health due to pollution. From this point of view, it is extremely necessary to stop it.

He informed that the Crop Residue Management scheme was started in 2018-19 to deal with the problem of stubble burning. Since then, a total financial assistance of Rs. 4,266.47 crore has been provided to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). With this assistance, more than 3.54 lakh crop residue management machines have been distributed in the states and more than 43,500 Custom Hiring Centres have been established.

Regarding preparations for 2026-27, he informed that a provision of Rs. 544.15 crore has been made under the CRM scheme, out of which the first instalment of Rs. 272.07 crore has already been released.

The Union Agriculture Minister said that the states have set ambitious targets for the current year, which include distribution of more than 46,000 crop residue management machines, establishment of 910 Custom Hiring Centres and development of 141 stubble supply chain projects. The meeting also reviewed the action plans prepared by the states for management of an estimated 2.762 crore tonnes of stubble during the paddy harvesting in 2026.

Shri Chouhan said that due to the continuous efforts of the Central Government, state governments, ICAR institutions, Agricultural Science Centres, local bodies and farmers, there has been a significant reduction in stubble burning incidents in the past years.

Both ministers stressed on further strengthening the ex-situ use of stubble through biomass power plants, compressed biogas (CBG) units, ethanol production plants and pellet manufacturing units. They said that such efforts are creating a permanent market for stubble and converting agricultural residue into economic resources.

The meeting also reviewed the monitoring and institutional arrangements established for effective implementation of the programme. It was informed that the inter-ministerial committee constituted for crop residue management is holding regular review meetings. States have been advised to complete distribution of machines before August 2026, strengthen Custom Hiring Centres, ensure full utilisation of available machinery and run extensive public awareness campaigns.

Special emphasis was laid in the meeting on promoting short-duration and low-water requiring paddy varieties so that the time window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing can be increased.

The Union Agriculture Minister informed that the government has already taken necessary steps through ICAR and state agricultural institutions to discourage cultivation of long-duration paddy varieties and promote suitable alternative varieties.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid special emphasis on continuous monitoring of the crop from sowing to harvesting of paddy so that the time window available between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing can be increased. He said that the ‘Stubble Protection Force’ will be made active in at least 70 tehsils of 14 districts of the National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure strict monitoring which will help in further reducing stubble burning incidents.

Both Union Ministers advised the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to review the available stubble stock and its utilisation capacity for pellet/briquette manufacturing units, compressed biogas (CBG) plants and co-firing in thermal power plants (TPPs).

The Union Agriculture Minister stressed on wide publicity of successful models and inspiring experiences of stubble management. He emphasised on creating awareness among farmers that in those fields where stubble was incorporated into the soil instead of being burnt, an increase in paddy productivity has been observed. He also stressed on effectively promoting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technique in the states.

Both Union Ministers reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminate the problem of stubble burning through mechanisation, technical innovation, industrial use of stubble, public awareness and coordinated efforts of all stakeholders.

Shri Chouhan said that the objective of the Central Government is to implement permanent solutions for stubble management for environment protection, maintaining soil fertility and increasing farmers’ income and productivity.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and concerned agencies participated in the meeting.

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RC/PU/MK

 

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