Punjab: over 14,000 CRM machines to be given to farmers to curb stubble burning

The Punjab government will provide over 14,000 crop residue management (CRM) machines to the state's farmers to manage paddy straw, according to an official letter from the Director of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. The district-wise targets for the distribution of machinery to individual farmers under the Crop Residue Management Scheme 2024-25 have been set by the Agriculture Department. 

To check stubble burning, the state government has prepared a Rs 500 crore action plan. CRM machines will be provided on subsidy to farmers during the paddy harvest season 2024-25. The total physical targets across all districts amount to 14,190 machines, with a total fund allocation of Rs 167.84 crore. Individual farmers can avail 50 percent subsidy on these machines, while an 80 percent subsidy is available for cooperative societies and panchayats. 

Guidelines and instructions regarding the implementation of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme for the year 2024-25 in the state were issued on June 21, 2024. The Agriculture Department has asked officials to start the process of implementing the scheme as soon as possible so that the machines can be provided to the beneficiaries by the end of August. According to the funds received from the Government of India, 32 percent of the targets are under the special component. Special efforts will be made to achieve these goals.

Highlights from the CRM Machinery Distribution Plan:

- Amritsar will receive 748 machines with a fund allocation of Rs 956.33 lakh.
- Ludhiana is set to get 911 machines with Rs 694.65 lakh allocated.
- Sangrur will receive the highest number of machines, totalling 997 units, with Rs 987.65 lakh allocated.
- Jalandhar will get 688 machines with an allocation of Rs 630.30 lakh.
- Hoshiarpur is allocated 610 machines and Rs 635.40 lakh.

This distribution includes a variety of machineries such as RMB ploughs, super seeders, zero till drills, happy seeders, surface seeders, shrub masters, balers, paddy straw choppers, mulchers, crop reapers, and self-propelled reaper cum binders, among others. The initiative aims to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of stubble burning and promote sustainable agricultural practices among the farmers in Punjab.

A survey by the Delhi-based independent think tank, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), found that 58 percent of surveyed farmers managed straw using machines like super seeders and rotavators. However, challenges remain in eliminating stubble burning, including timely access to CRM machines, insufficient training on their use, and misconceptions about reduced yields and pest attacks on wheat sown with these machines. Additionally, nearly half of Punjab farmers who use in-situ crop residue management (CRM) machines still burn some loose paddy straw to ensure the machines operate efficiently and control pests.