Lok Sabha Question No. 1161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Crop Residue Management Machines
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1161

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT MACHINES

1161.  SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government's  attention  is  drawn  to  the  reports  regarding  Baler machine  shortages  forcing  farmers  to  burn  crop  residue  across  the  State  of Punjab;
- (b)  whether the Government has provided funds for providing Baler machines to the State for tackling this situation;
- (c)  if so, the details of the funds allocated and utilized;
- (d)  whether adequate Baler machines have been purchased or whether the current situation warrants certain irregularities; and
- (e)  if so, a detailed report of the irregularities, if any?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (e): Paddy stubble burning is mainly practiced in Indo-Gangetic plains of the States  of  Punjab,  Haryana  and  Uttar  Pradesh  due  to  short  window  between  the harvesting of paddy crop and sowing of next Rabi crop. To support the efforts of the these  States,  to  address  air  pollution  caused  due  to  paddy  stubble  burning  and  to subsidize  machinery  required  for  management  of  crop  residue,    a  Crop  Residue Management Scheme is  being  implemented  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and Farmers Welfare from the year  2018-19.  Under this scheme, financial assistance @ 50% is provided to the farmers for purchase of crop residue management machinery and  @  80%  is  provided  to  Rural  Entrepreneurs  (Rural  youth  &  Farmer  as  an entrepreneur),  Cooperative  Societies  of  farmers,    Registered  Farmers  Societies, Farmers Producer Organization (FPOs) and Panchayats for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) of crop residue management machines. The scheme promotes the usage of machines and equipments for management of crop residues  such as Super  Straw  Management  Systems,  Happy  Seeder,  Super Seeder,  Smart  Seeder, Surface  Seeder  Zero  Till  Seed  cum  Fertilizer  Drill,  Mulcher,  Shrub  Master/Rotary

Slasher, Paddy Straw Chopper, Hydraulically Reversible Mould Board Plough, Crop Reapers and Reaper Binders for in-situ management of crop residue and Balers & Straw Rakes for collection of straw for further ex-situ utilization. Financial assistance @ 65% on the capital cost of machinery costing up to a maximum of Rs. 1.50 Crore per project is also provided for paddy straw supply chain which covers the machinery and equipments like  higher HP Tractors,  Cutters, Tedder,  Medium  to  large  Balers, Rakers, Loaders, Grabbers & Telehandlers. During the period from 2018-19 to 202425, an amount of Rs. 1681.45 Crores have been released to the State of Punjab. The State has distributed more than 1.35 lakh machines to the individual farmers and to more than 25417 CHCs in the State, which also include 1554 Balers which are used for collection of straw in the form of bales for further ex-situ utilization. Looking into inclination of farmers towards in-situ management of paddy straw, the State of Punjab has targeted to provide 1000 additional baler machines during the current year 202425. As per the information received from the State of Punjab, the situation does not warrant any irregularities  and the State is optimistic that as more manufacturers enter the market, the supply of balers will eventually catch up with the rising demand.

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