Lok Sabha Question No. 2351 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-03
Subject: Issue of Stubble Burning in North India
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Santokh Singh Chaudhary, Sougata Ray, Meenakashi Lekhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2351

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2019

## ISSUE OF STUBBLE BURNING IN NORTH INDIA

2351.  SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY:

PROF. SAUGATA RAY:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the issue of stubble burning in agricultural fields of North India, if so, the reasons identified underlying the problem and the response of the  Government  thereto  along  with  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  to  deal  with  stubble burning;
- (b) whether a long term action plan has been prepared to eliminate stubble burning in future, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  for  financial  assistance  to  farmers  to remove the stubbles in their farms to avoid burning to control the pollution, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  State  Government  has  asked  for  such  types  of  assistance,  if  so,  the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (e) the steps taken to enforce Supreme Court's decision on ban on stubble burning; and
- (f) the  alternative  options  for  economically  disadvantaged  farmers  in  place  stubble burning?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Paddy stubble burning is mainly practiced in Indo-Gangetic plains of the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to clear the fields for Rabi crop sowing. The farmers are  resorting  to  paddy  straw  burning  because  of  very  short  time  window  between  the harvesting of paddy crop and the sowing of next crop.

To address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for InSitu  Management  of  Crop  Residue  in  the  States  of  Punjab,  Haryana,  Uttar  Pradesh  and NCT of Delhi' for the period from 2018-19 to 2019-20 is being implemented with the total outgo from the Central funds of Rs. 1151.80 crores.

During the year 2018-19 and 2019-20, the funds as under have been released under the aforementioned scheme:

| State/Agency                    | Funds Released (Rs. in Crores)   | Funds Released (Rs. in Crores)   |
|---------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|                                 | 2018-19                          | 2019-20                          |
| Punjab                          | 269.38                           | 273.80                           |
| Haryana                         | 137.84                           | 192.06                           |
| Uttar Pradesh                   | 148.60                           | 105.28                           |
| NCT of Delhi                    | 0                                | 4.52                             |
| ICAR and other Central Agencies | 28.51                            | 18.48                            |
| Total                           | 584.33                           | 594.14                           |

Out of these funds, the State Governments during 2018-19 have supplied more than 56290 machines to the individual farmers and Custom Hiring Centres on subsidy for in-situ management  of  crop  residue.  During  2019-20,  more  than  32808  machines  have  been supplied  so  far.  The  State  Governments  and  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  have  also undertaken Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities on a massive scale for creating awareness among farmers.

(c) & (d): The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare  under  the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is already extending financial support to the State Governments for providing subsidy (@ 40% of the cost of machine) for purchase of  balers  and  rakes  which  are  used  for  straw  collection  in  the  form  of  bales.  The Government of Punjab has provided subsidy to Farmers / Farmer Groups for purchase of 188 Balers & 171 Rakes.  The Government of Haryana also provided subsidy on 84 Balers and Rakes.

(e): In  compliance to the directions of Supreme Court vide order dated 06.11.2019, the Government of Punjab has brought out a scheme for providing compensation @ Rs. 100/per quintal to those small and marginal farmers who are cultivating non-basmati paddy and are  managing  the  paddy  residue  by  in-situ  method  without  burning.  The  Government  of Haryana also brought out the scheme to provide Rs. 1000/- per acre operational charges for crop residue management for in-situ and ex-situ purposes. The Government of Haryana will also  give  Rs.  100  per  quintal  incentive  to  those  farmers  who  have  sold  their  paddy  after 06.11.2019 and till 15.11.2019 and have not burnt the crop residue.

(f): The  Government  is  promoting  establishment  of  Custom  Hiring  Centres  to  provide machines and equipments to the small and marginal farmers on reasonable rent basis. A mobile  app-based  aggregator  platform  'CHC  Farm  Machinery'  which  facilitates  hiring  and renting  of  farm  machinery  from  and  by  the  Custom  Hiring  Centres/owners  of  the  farm machinery  has  also  been  launched  in  public  domain  which  encompasses  a  fair  and transparent rental process while focusing on quality, dependability and timely delivery of the services.

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