The Centre has allocated ₹544.15 crore under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme for 2026-27, with the first instalment of ₹272.07 crore already disbursed to states, the Agriculture Ministry confirmed on 17 June 2026. The allocation signals a continued federal push to eliminate stubble burning ahead of the upcoming paddy harvesting season.

Scheme Background and Cumulative Outlay

Launched in 2018-19 specifically to address the stubble-burning crisis, the CRM scheme has so far channelled a total of ₹4,266.47 crore to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Over that period, more than 3.54 lakh crop residue management machines have been distributed and more than 43,500 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) established across the beneficiary states.

What the Ministers Said

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav jointly chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to review CRM progress and assess state preparedness for the 2026 paddy harvesting season. Chouhan said stubble burning 'not only pollutes the environment but also affects the health of Mother Earth,' adding that it destroys beneficial insects, reduces soil fertility, and harms public health. Both ministers underscored that halting the practice is 'extremely necessary.'

Targets Set for 2026-27

States have submitted action plans for managing an estimated 2.762 crore tonnes of paddy stubble during the 2026 harvest. The targets for the current year include distribution of more than 46,000 CRM machines, establishment of 910 new Custom Hiring Centres, and development of 141 stubble supply chain projects — each figure exceeding prior-year benchmarks, according to the ministry.

Ex-Situ Use: Turning Stubble into Revenue

The inter-ministerial meeting also emphasised scaling up ex-situ utilisation of crop residue through biomass power plants, compressed biogas (CBG) units, ethanol production facilities, and pellet manufacturing units. Both ministers argued that building a permanent commercial market for stubble is the only durable solution — one that converts agricultural waste into an economic resource for farmers rather than a disposal problem. This comes amid persistent air quality emergencies in the Indo-Gangetic Plain every October-November, when stubble fires routinely push Delhi's AQI into the 'severe' category.

Reduction in Burning Incidents

Chouhan credited the combined efforts of the Centre, state governments, ICAR institutions, Agricultural Science Centres, local bodies, and farmers for a significant reduction in stubble burning incidents in recent years. Independent satellite data from agencies monitoring farm fires in Punjab and Haryana has broadly corroborated a downward trend, though advocacy groups argue the absolute numbers remain unacceptably high. The 2026-27 season will be a critical test of whether the expanded machine distribution and CHC network translate into measurable fire-count reductions.