Creating Awareness Among Farmers is Essential to Curb Stubble Burning, Says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised the importance of raising awareness among farmers to tackle stubble burning. He proposed involving panchayats, local representatives, and nodal officers at the village level for effective crop residue management. This suggestion came during a meeting on stubble management, which he chaired alongside Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.

The meeting aimed to address air pollution from stubble burning and improve the utilisation of paddy residue. It also focused on increasing farmer awareness, providing financial support, and enhancing monitoring and crop management strategies. Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa participated virtually.

Strategies for Stubble Management

At the meeting's outset, agriculture ministers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh shared updates on their stubble management efforts. They reported that their states are actively implementing schemes with full commitment from officers and field departments. Haryana's agriculture minister noted that financial assistance is being provided to discourage farmers from burning stubble.

Chouhan praised these states for their efforts in reducing stubble pollution but stressed the need for continuous efforts to achieve broader goals. He highlighted the significance of farmer awareness and suggested involving local bodies at the village level for better outcomes. Chouhan also discussed issues related to crop management, direct seeding, diversification, fund utilisation, and monitoring mechanisms.

Promoting Direct Seeding

The Union Agriculture Minister urged states to promote direct seeding in their regions. He announced his intention to start direct wheat sowing in his field on October 12, right after the paddy harvest. "When farmers see me doing it, they too will be encouraged to adopt direct sowing," he stated. He also encouraged farmers to use rotavators, choppers, bio-decomposers, and mulching equipment.

Chouhan emphasised promoting bio-CNG and ethanol plants for effective crop residue utilisation. He directed states to ensure efficient use of available funds for stubble management so that machinery availability does not become an issue. Prioritising crop diversification was also highlighted as part of long-term efforts.

Coordination Between Ministries

Union Environment Minister Yadav stressed enhanced coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and state governments over the next 10 days. He highlighted the importance of stubble collection and storage for proper industrial use, mentioning its potential application in brick kilns and thermal power plants.

The meeting was attended by Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, ICAR Director General M L Jat, and other senior officials from both ministries. Chouhan expressed confidence that with sustained efforts and coordinated actions between the Centre and states, incidents of stubble burning will decrease further in the coming days.

Real-time or on-ground monitoring is essential," Chouhan said. "I am confident that with sustained efforts, we will achieve better outcomes and succeed in protecting the environment and climate."

With inputs from PTI