A high-level inter-ministerial meeting was convened to address the pressing issue of crop residue burning, particularly paddy stubble burning, which significantly contributes to air pollution, especially in regions like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has issued a press release dated on October 26, 2024.
Key Points
State governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR presented their strategies to mitigate stubble burning. These include providing financial incentives to farmers for adopting alternative crop residue management practices, such as in-situ management and conversion into value-added products.
The central government is extending financial support to states through the Central Sponsored Scheme on Crop Residue Management. This scheme promotes the use of in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management machines and creates awareness about sustainable practices.
The government is encouraging the use of bio-decomposers to accelerate the decomposition of crop residue in fields.
States are being advised to promote crop diversification and explore alternative crops to reduce the cultivation of paddy, a major contributor to stubble burning.
Intensive awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate farmers about the harmful effects of stubble burning and the benefits of sustainable practices.
The government is supporting the development of infrastructure for the efficient utilization of crop residue as a resource for various industries, such as biomass power generation and biofuel production.
