Incentives, awareness drive 29% decline in stubble-burning cases

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has implemented a state-specific scheme for stubble management, offering financial assistance to farmers and setting zero-burning targets for panchayats. This initiative has led to a 29 per cent reduction in stubble-burning incidents, with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recording 713 incidents this year.

A government spokesperson emphasised that burning paddy stubble after harvest contributes to air pollution, reduces soil fertility, and harms farmers’ health. The government has been actively promoting awareness at the village level, with 83,070 farmers now registered to manage 7.11 lakh acres of paddy area as of October 28, 2024. The registration deadline is November 30.

The government is offering farmers subsidised crop management equipment for in situ and ex situ residue management, with 1,00,882 crop residue management machines distributed between 2018-19 and 2024-25, at subsidies ranging from 50 to 80 per cent. This year alone, farmers purchased 9,844 machines.

Farmers are receiving incentives of Rs 1,000 per acre for managing crop residues, and an additional Rs 7,000 per acre for crop diversification under the Mera Pani-Meri Virasat Yojana. This year, 33,712 farmers opted for crop diversification on 66,181 acres. Since 2020, the state has disbursed Rs 223 crore in incentives for crop diversification.

The spokesperson added that the government is also providing Rs 4,000 per acre for adopting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technology, and Rs 15,000 per gaushala for transporting crop residue bales, which can also generate income for farmers. To discourage stubble burning, villages are categorised into red, yellow, and green zones based on past incidents. Panchayats in red and yellow zones are offered incentives of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, respectively, for achieving zero-burning targets.

The spokesperson noted that, despite the support provided, strict action is being taken against violations. A total of 334 challans have been issued, with fines totalling Rs 8.45 lakh collected. Additionally, 418 red entries were made in farmers’ records, and police cases have been registered against 192 farmers.