Punjab witnesses remarkable 53% decline in paddy straw burning

Punjab, known for its vast paddy cultivation spanning 31 lakh hectares, has successfully battled the widespread issue of paddy straw burning under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government. This significant achievement marks a notable 53% reduction in fire incidents between September 15, 2023, and October 25, 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year, as confirmed by state authorities.
The state’s struggle with managing the enormous annual generation of paddy straw, a staggering 20 million tonnes, led to the adoption of a comprehensive approach. This approach incorporates both in-situ (on-field) and ex-situ (off-field) paddy straw management, behavior modification initiatives, and close monitoring of implementation. In the in-situ category, the government provided substantial subsidies for crop residue management (CRM) machines, extending an 80% subsidy for farmer groups and 50% for individual farmers. A proactive step was taken in September to procure 24,000 units well before the harvest season, with 16,000 already in use. To further support small and marginal farmers, districts received an allocation of 7.15 Crores to establish custom hiring centers in each block, offering free access to CRM machines. Punjab now boasts 1.35 lakh CRM machines, with stringent oversight to ensure their efficient utilization through weekly high-level reviews. The state introduced the surface seeder, a cost-effective addition to CRM machines, adopted by 500 farmers to address paddy straw disposal. The government has actively promoted industries that convert paddy straw into cleaner fuel, bolstering its industrial expansion efforts. These industries have increased paddy straw consumption by 23.4 lakh metric tonnes since 2022, driven by government incentives and streamlined establishment processes.
Furthermore, brick kilns are encouraged to replace 20% of coal with paddy straw pellets, accompanied by substantial fiscal incentives of 25 crores for the first 50 boilers utilizing paddy straw as fuel. The Department of Rural Development leases land for 33 years to industries committed to paddy straw utilization. The government is also advancing a public-private partnership (PPP) model for procuring large balers, providing a generous 65% subsidy, up to 1 crore, for establishing paddy straw supply chains. Punjab’s approach not only creates a favorable environment but also enforces stringent monitoring and control measures.