Punjab Government Unveils Strategy to Equip Farmers with CRM Machinery for Paddy Straw Management
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Synopsis
The Punjab government has launched a Rs 500 crore plan to provide farmers with subsidized crop residue management machinery, aiming to eliminate stubble burning and enhance paddy straw management across the state.
Key Takeaways
- Rs 500 crore action plan initiated.
- Subsidies of 50% for individual farmers, 80% for groups.
- Applications accepted from April 22 to May 12.
- 17,600 CRM machines distributed last season.
- 70% decrease in fire incidents due to CRM efforts.
Chandigarh, April 20 (NationPress) In a bid to eliminate stubble burning in the state, the Punjab government has devised an action plan worth Rs 500 crore to provide farmers with crop residue management (CRM) machinery at subsidized rates and implement additional strategies for effective paddy straw management.
Punjab's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian announced that the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department is now accepting online applications from farmers seeking subsidies for the acquisition of CRM machinery.
Farmers can submit applications through the online portal agrimachinerypb.com from April 22 to May 12.
Encouraging farmers to seize this opportunity, Khuddian noted that the government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is providing a 50 percent subsidy for individual farmers and an 80 percent subsidy for groups of farmers, cooperative societies, and gram panchayats for the purchase of CRM equipment.
This initiative is designed to enhance access to CRM machinery for farmers, fostering its adoption and ultimately leading to a cleaner environment, according to the Minister.
The subsidy applies to various CRM machinery, including Super SMS, Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Surface Seeder, Smart Seeder, Zero Till Drill, Baler, Rake, Shrub Master or Rotary Slasher, paddy straw chopper, shredder, or mulcher, crop reaper, and hydraulic reversible mould board plough.
Basant Garg, the Administrative Secretary of the Agriculture Department, stated that Punjab has made remarkable strides in crop residue management.
Last season, the state government distributed 17,600 subsidized CRM machines to individual farmers, cooperative societies, and panchayats.
Moreover, 1,331 custom hiring centres were established to facilitate CRM practices.
These initiatives led to a 70 percent reduction in fire incidents compared to the previous season, with only 10,909 incidents recorded, down from 36,663 in 2023.
