Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses concerns regarding paddy residue management and stubble burning. It confirms the ongoing implementation of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme since 2018-19 in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and NCT of Delhi. The scheme focuses on providing machinery and financial assistance for in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy straw, with the goal of reducing stubble burning. Data indicates a significant reduction in burning events between 2018 and 2024.
Key Points / Main Content:
Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme:
* Implemented by the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW) since 2018-19 in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and NCT of Delhi.
* Central funds amounting to Rs. 3951.16 Crores have been released under the CRM scheme as on 30.06.2025.
* States have provided over 3.24 lakh crop residue management machines to farmers.
* Over 42,000 Custom Hiring Centres established with 80% subsidy to provide equipment to farmers at rates lower than market rates.
* No additional per acre expenditure support scheme for paddy residue collection is proposed beyond the existing CRM scheme.
Ex-situ Management:
* Financial assistance is provided for establishing paddy straw supply chains to supply bioCNG/CBG, Bio-Ethanol, or biomass-based power generation projects.
* The sale of paddy straw to industrial projects provides additional income for farmers.
In-situ Management:
* Super Seeder is the most preferred machine, followed by Happy Seeder and Smart Seeder, for direct sowing of wheat without burning straw.
* Average rentals for Super/Happy/Smart Seeder are approximately Rs. 2500 per acre for wheat sowing.
* In-situ residue management enriches soil fertility and reduces fertilizer application.
Reduction in Stubble Burning:
* Paddy straw burning events in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh between September 15th and November 30th reduced from 75514 in 2018 to 18457 in 2024, a 75.5% reduction.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Access to subsidized CRM machinery and potential additional income through the sale of paddy straw; improved soil fertility and reduced fertilizer costs through in-situ management.
* Action Required: Utilize available CRM machinery, explore opportunities to sell paddy straw to industrial projects, and adopt in-situ residue management practices.
State Governments (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, NCT of Delhi):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the CRM scheme, establishing Custom Hiring Centres, and distributing machinery.
* Action Required: Continue effective implementation of the CRM scheme, ensure accessibility of machinery to farmers, and promote both in-situ and ex-situ residue management practices.
Industrial Projects (bioCNG/CBG, Bio-Ethanol, Biomass-based power generation):
* Impact: Potential for secure biomass supply through established paddy straw supply chains, supported by financial assistance.
* Action Required: Collaborate with farmers to establish reliable paddy straw supply chains and contribute to reducing stubble burning.
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW):
* Impact: Oversees and funds the CRM scheme.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the CRM scheme, ensuring funds are allocated and utilized efficiently.
Key Entities Referenced
Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme: A scheme implemented by the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW) since 2018-19 to manage crop residue and discourage stubble burning.
Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW): The department responsible for implementing the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme.
Punjab: One of the states where the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme is being implemented.
Haryana: One of the states where the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme is being implemented.
Uttar Pradesh: One of the states where the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme is being implemented.
NCT of Delhi: One of the areas where the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme is being implemented.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi: An institute that published reports on paddy straw burning events through the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS) Laboratory.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1592
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY 2025
SUPPORT FOR PADDY RESIDUE MANAGEMENT
1592. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate a scheme to provide per acre
expenditure support to paddy growing farmers for the collection and safe disposal of paddy
residue to discourage stubble burning;
(b) if so, the details of the proposed scheme, including quantum of financial assistance
per acre and modalities of direct transfer to farmers;
(c) whether the Ministry has assessed the cost incurred by farmers for residue
management per acre, and if so, the findings thereof
(d) whether the Government will consider integrating this support with existing crop
residue management machinery schemes to ensure effective implementation and
environmental compliance; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (e): The Crop Residue Management(CRM) Scheme being implemented by the
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) since 2018-19 in the states of
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi. Under the CRM scheme as on
30.06.2025, the central funds amounting to Rs. 3951.16 Crores have been released. The
States have provided more than 3.24 lakh crop residue management machines to the
farmers. The States have also established more than 42,000 Custom Hiring Centres of
Crop Residue management machines with 80% subsidy with the intention of making
available the equipments and machines to the farmers as per their requirements on rental
basis at the rates lower than the market rates.
There is no proposal to formulate a scheme to provide per acre expenditure
support to paddy growing farmers for collection and safe disposal of paddy residue
over and above the financial support already being provided under the Crop
Residue Management (CRM) schemeUnder this scheme, ex-situ management of paddy straw is also promoted by
providing financial assistance for establishing paddy straw supply chain with the
boarder objectives of ensuring biomass supply security for pre-identified ex-situ
based small-medium-large scale industrial projects of bio-CNG/CBG, Bio-Ethanol
or Biomass based power generation etc. The sale of paddy straw to these industrial
projects provide an additional income to the farmers.
Super seeder is the most preferred machine for in-situ management followed
by Happy Seeder and Smart Seeder. These machines are used for sowing wheat
directly into just-harvested rice fields without burning or removing straw. The
average rentals for Super/Happy/Smart Seeder is around Rs. 2500/- per acre for
sowing of wheat, which is almost equal to the cost of sowing wheat by other
methods after burning the paddy straw. The overall benefits of in-situ residue
management practices by using these machines also include enrichment of soil
fertility and savings on reduced application of fertilizers.
The overall objective of reducing the burning of paddy straw through the
initiatives under CRM scheme is getting realized as it is evident from the reports
published by the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and
Modelling from Space (CREAMS) Laboratory, Division of Agricultural Physics,
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The paddy straw burning events between 15th
September to 30th November during 2018 in the States of Punjab, Haryana and
Uttar Pradesh were 75514, which have been reduced to 18457 events during 2024
for the same period, which indicates 75.5 percent reduction in paddy straw burning.
*****