Finding a permanent solution to stubble burning remains a major challenge for both the Centre and state governments. Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme and preparedness for the upcoming paddy harvesting season at a high-level meeting in New Delhi.
The Agriculture Minister said that the Crop Residue Management Scheme was launched in 2018-19 to tackle the problem of stubble burning. Since its inception, the Centre has provided financial assistance of Rs 4,266.47 crore to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The funds have enabled the distribution of more than 354,000 crop residue management machines and the establishment of over 43,500 Custom Hiring Centres across these states.
For 2026-27, an allocation of Rs 544.15 crore has been made under the CRM scheme, with the first instalment of Rs 272.07 crore already released. States have set targets for the distribution of more than 46,000 machines, establishment of 910 new Custom Hiring Centres and development of 141 stubble supply chain projects during the year.
The meeting also reviewed state action plans for managing an estimated 27.62 million tonnes of paddy straw expected to be generated during the 2026 harvesting season. Chouhan said coordinated efforts by the Centre, state governments, ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, local bodies and farmers have contributed to a significant reduction in stubble-burning incidents in recent years.
Focus on Industrial Use of Paddy Straw
Both ministers emphasized the need to strengthen industrial utilization of crop residue through biomass-based power plants, compressed biogas (CBG) units, ethanol production facilities and pellet manufacturing units. They noted that expanding such uses would create a sustainable market for paddy straw and provide farmers with an additional source of income.
The review also covered monitoring mechanisms under the crop residue management programme. States were advised to complete machine distribution before August 2026, strengthen Custom Hiring Centres, ensure optimal utilization of available machinery and conduct extensive awareness campaigns among farmers.
The ministers also stressed the promotion of short-duration and low-water-consuming paddy varieties to increase the gap between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing. Chouhan said the government has already initiated measures through ICAR and state agricultural institutions to discourage long-duration paddy varieties and promote suitable alternatives.
‘Stubble Protection Force’ in 14 NCR Districts
Highlighting the need for continuous monitoring from paddy sowing to harvesting, the Agriculture Minister announced that a dedicated “Parali Suraksha Bal” (Stubble Protection Force) will be activated in at least 70 tehsils across 14 districts of the National Capital Region (NCR). The initiative aims to ensure strict monitoring which will help in further reducing stubble burning incidents.
The ministers also suggested that the Central Pollution Control Board review the availability of paddy straw stocks and the utilization capacity of pellet and briquette manufacturing units, CBG plants and thermal power stations using biomass co-firing.
Chouhan stressed the need for wider dissemination of successful stubble management models and farmer success stories. He said that fields where paddy residue was incorporated into the soil instead of being burned have shown improved productivity. He also called for more effective promotion of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology across states.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, ICAR and other concerned agencies attended the meeting.