1,694 farmers play leading role in stubble management
In a major step towards promoting sustainable farming practices, 1,694 farmers in the district have stepped forward to play a leading role in stubble management for 2024-25. These farmers have applied for in situ, and ex situ crop residue management (CRM) machinery under the government’s subsidy scheme, aimed at tackling the growing issue of stubble burning, which poses serious environmental and health hazards. Of them, nearly 745 farmers have purchased the machinery, while the remaining farmers are purchasing them. Earlier, nearly 8,000 farmers had already purchased these in situ and ex situ machines and were contributing towards stubble management. With these 1,694 farmers, the number of progressive farmers will increase.
As per the data collected by The Tribune, the district has 5.60 lakh acres of cultivable land, with a net sown area of 5.25 lakh acres, of which 4.25 lakh acres are under paddy cultivation. Of this, 1.50 lakh acres are dedicated to basmati rice. The paddy crop generates nearly 8.50 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of straw, with around 3 lakh MT coming from basmati and nearly 5.50 lakh MT from non-basmati varieties.
The authorities have set a target to manage two lakh MT of paddy straw through in situ methods and 5.5 lakh MT through ex situ methods, while one lakh MT is already used as fodder. The department has also set a target of one lakh MT of paddy straw delivery to the IOCL, Panipat, which will be generated through ex situ.
The Department of Agriculture has invited farmers to apply for subsidies on CRM machinery through an online portal till August 4, offering financial support for the procurement of essential machines.
There are four primary types of CRM machinery available under the scheme: the super seeder for in situ management, and slasher, hay rake and balers, which work together for ex situ management. Out of the 1,694 farmers who applied for the subsidy this year, 1,640 were issued permits, with 914 farmers already uploading their bills for subsidy. As of now, 745 farmers have successfully purchased the equipment, said Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director, Agriculture (DDA), Karnal.
In total, the district has 7,948 machines for stubble management, with 3,065 available through custom hiring centres (CHCs) and 4,181 owned by individual farmers. These machines include 249 super straw management systems, 497 happy seeders, 1,007 shrub masters or rotary slashers, 445 hydraulic reversible MB ploughs, 1,367 zero till seed drills, 2,795 super seeders, 296 bales, 412 straw rakes, 9 crop reapers, and 871 paddy straw choppers, the DDA added.
Dr Singh emphasised that the department was committed to reducing the incidence of farm fires through a series of awareness campaigns and enforcement measures. “We are motivating farmers to adopt alternative stubble management practices and various awareness programmes have been organised at the village, block and district levels. These include wall paintings in hotspot villages, awareness vans and banners at prominent locations. We are also conducting training sessions for the farmers, CHC operators and the youth of hotspot villages on the operation and maintenance of CRM machinery,” he said.
The farmers are also getting good returns from the stubble management and are motivating other farmers. “I have purchased machines for stubble management and started making bales. It is being sold at Rs 1,700-1,900 per quintal,” said Deepak Kumar, a farmer.
