Sustainable Crop Solutions
Chandigarh
The Punjab government has sanctioned 15,000 crop residue management (CRM) machines this year, with farmers already purchasing 12,500 of them, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced on Thursday. The machines include super seeders, happy seeders, mulchers, rotavators, and other tools aimed at curbing stubble burning.
Khudian said the government has drawn up a ₹500 crore action plan for effective paddy straw management, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. So far, 1.48 lakh CRM machines have been distributed across the state. Camps are also being organized in villages to spread awareness about the harmful effects of burning paddy straw on air quality, soil health, and the environment.
“This year, we have sanctioned 15,000 CRM machines and 12,500 farmers have already procured them,” Khudian stated. He added that the machinery also includes straw choppers, shredders, hydraulic ploughs, and zero till drills, providing farmers with multiple alternatives to burning crop residue.
The minister highlighted progress, noting that Punjab saw a 70 percent drop in stubble burning incidents last year. Farm fire cases fell to 10,909 in 2024, compared to 36,663 in 2023. However, stubble burning remains a major challenge, as farmers often torch fields to quickly prepare for wheat sowing after the paddy harvest.
Past data shows Punjab recorded 49,922 farm fires in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019, and 50,590 in 2018, with districts like Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, and Amritsar worst affected.
The government hopes wider use of residue management machines will further reduce incidents, improving both farming practices and regional air quality.
