New Delhi, August 4, 2023: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has reiterated the commitment of the Central government to completely eliminate incidents of paddy stubble burning during the current season. In pursuit of this goal, an inter-ministerial meeting was convened, during which the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi unveiled their respective action plans and strategies to combat the practice of stubble burning.
Stubble burning, a common practice involving the setting of straw stubble on fire after paddy harvesting, is prevalent in the months of October and November, particularly in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Minister Tomar underscored the urgency of collectively addressing and eradicating this detrimental practice during the ongoing season.
To support the states in their endeavors, the Central government is allocating sufficient funds through the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme. States are tasked with ensuring the timely distribution of requisite machinery to farmers, along with ensuring its efficient utilization. Moreover, the application of bio-decomposers should be vigilantly monitored at the state level.
Minister Tomar also advocated for the utilization of paddy straw for commercial purposes through ex-situ management. Promoting awareness campaigns to discourage stubble burning, employing mechanisms such as Agriculture Technology Management Agencies (ATMA), should be given precedence.
During the meeting, Minister Tomar acknowledged the declining trend in incidents of paddy stubble burning, but he emphasized that the issue extends beyond contributing to air pollution in Delhi and its surrounding regions. It also exerts adverse effects on soil health and fertility, directly impacting the interests of farmers. Therefore, the initiatives should address both the challenge of air pollution and the imperative to safeguard soil health.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the encouraging outcomes of anti-stubble burning efforts undertaken over the past five years. The encouragement of ex-situ management of paddy straw could potentially yield valuable raw materials for industries such as power and biomass.
The meeting witnessed the participation of agriculture ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, as well as environment ministers and senior officials from the central government.
