Haryana: 1,694 farmers are playing a leading role in stubble management

Haryana: In a major step towards promoting sustainable agricultural practices, 1,694 farmers of the district have stepped forward to take the lead 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 problem of stubble burning, which poses serious environmental and health hazards. Of these, around 745 farmers have purchased the machinery, while the rest are in the process of purchasing them. Earlier, around 8,000 farmers had purchased these in situ and ex situ machines and were contributing to stubble management. With these 1,694 farmers, the number of progressive farmers will increase. According to 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 paddy is cultivated in 4.25 lakh acres. Of this, 1.50 lakh acres is dedicated to Basmati rice. The paddy crop produces about 8.50 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of straw, of which about 3 lakh metric tonnes come from Basmati and about 5.50 lakh metric tonnes from non-Basmati varieties.

The authorities have set a target to manage two lakh metric tonnes of paddy straw through in situ methods and 5.5 lakh metric tonnes through ex situ methods, while one lakh metric tonnes is already being used as fodder. The department has also set a target to deliver one lakh metric tonnes of paddy straw to IOCL, Panipat, which will be generated through ex situ. The agriculture department has invited farmers to apply for subsidy on CRM machinery through an online portal by August 4, offering financial assistance for the purchase of the required machines. Four primary types of CRM machinery are available under the scheme: super seeders for in situ management, and slashers, grass rakes and balers, which work together for ex situ management. Out of 1,694 farmers who applied for subsidy this year, permits were issued to 1,640, while 914 farmers have uploaded their bills for subsidy. Karnal Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) Dr Wazir Singh said that so far 745 farmers have successfully purchased the equipment.

The district has a total of 7,948 machines for stubble management, of which 3,065 are available through Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) and 4,181 are owned by individual farmers. These machines include 249 Super Straw Management System, 497 Happy Seeder, 1,007 Shrub Master or Rotary Slasher, 445 Hydraulic Reversible MB Plough, 1,367 Zero Till Seed Drill, 2,795 Super Seeder, 296 Bale, 412 Straw Rakes, 9 Crop Reaper and 871 Paddy Straw Chopper, DDA informed. Dr Singh emphasised that the department is 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 village, block and district levels. These include wall painting in hotspot villages, awareness vans and banners at prominent locations. We are also organising training sessions on operation and maintenance of CRM machinery for farmers, CHC operators and youth of hotspot villages,” he said. Farmers are also getting good profits from stubble management and they are inspiring other farmers. Farmer Deepak Kumar said, “I have bought machines for stubble management and have started making bales. It is being sold at Rs 1,700-1,900 per quintal.”