Lok Sabha Question No. 1277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Crop Residue Management
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1277

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY 2024

## CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT

1277.  SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

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

- (a)  the  status  of  the  scheme  on  'Promotion  of  Agricultural  Mechanization  for  In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi';
- (b)  whether the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have taken measures to provide alternate crop  residue  management solutions  to  farmers  in  Northern  States  during  the  winter season to discourage stubble burning;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  whether KVKs have carried out assessment surveys for location-specific technology or knowledge modules in regions facing the issue of stubble burning, if so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) 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,    the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has implemented 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  during the period from 2018-19 to 2022-23. The scheme has been merged with Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) with effect from 2023-24 and is now being implemented as a Component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) on funds staring basis between Centre and State.  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.

(b) to  (d):  The  Indian  Council of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR) has developed Pusa Biodecomposer, a microbial consortium of fungal species (both in liquid and capsule forms) for rapid decomposition of paddy straw. Use of this consortium accelerates process of paddy straw decomposition in the field in about 20-25 days. The Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have  conducted  8803  number  of  demonstrations  on  farmers'  fields  and  awareness programmes to promote Pusa Decomposer for management of crop residue. KVKs have conducted surveys to assess different technologies for crop residue management to find out their location specificity to tackle the issue of stubble burning. Assessments indicate that higher yields of wheat was obtained as a result of sowing of wheat with Happy Seeder and Super Seeder in the standing stubble and helped in in-situ management of paddy straw. Awareness, demonstrations and capacity building programmes are carried out based on the findings of assessments.

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