Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired a high-level meeting on stubble management in New Delhi. The meeting, held at Krishi Bhavan, was attended virtually by Punjab Agriculture Minister Shri Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Haryana Agriculture Minister Shri Shyam Singh Rana, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Surya Pratap Shahi, and Delhi Environment Minister Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
The core agenda of the meeting was to curb air pollution caused by stubble burning, promote the effective use of paddy residues, and encourage awareness among farmers. The discussions also focused on financial assistance, monitoring mechanisms, crop management, and diversification practices.
At the outset, agriculture ministers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh shared updates on stubble management measures in their respective states. They highlighted that implementation is being carried out with seriousness and vigilance, with officials and field departments actively engaged. Haryana’s Agriculture Minister noted that financial aid provided to farmers has shown positive results, motivating them to adopt alternative methods instead of burning stubble.
Commending the efforts of states, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that while commendable progress has been made, sustained and continuous efforts are essential to achieve larger goals. He emphasized that raising awareness among farmers is the most crucial step, and that the active involvement of panchayats, local representatives, and nodal officers must be ensured.
The Minister stressed the importance of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), crop diversification, and practical action plans. He stated that coordinated and concrete measures would certainly yield positive outcomes. Appealing to states to promote direct seeding, he announced that on October 12, immediately after the paddy harvest, he would personally undertake direct wheat seeding on his farm to inspire farmers.
Shri Chouhan also urged farmers to adopt equipment such as rotavators, straw choppers, bio-decomposers, and mulching tools, and encouraged linking crop residue management with bio-CNG and ethanol plants.
The Minister directed states to ensure optimal use of funds allocated for stubble management so that farmers do not face shortages of machinery. He further stressed prioritizing crop diversification as a long-term solution. He suggested integrating stubble collection and disposal systems with bio-CNG units, pellet and compost plants, industries, and thermal power stations.
Highlighting the importance of training, awareness, capacity-building, and real-time monitoring, Shri Chouhan expressed confidence that with coordinated efforts between the Centre and the states, stubble burning cases will continue to decline, ensuring the protection of the environment and climate.
Appreciation from Bhupender Yadav: Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav praised the efforts of the states and underscored the need for stronger coordination between the Agriculture Ministry and states over the next 10 days. He highlighted the importance of stubble collection and storage, pointing out that crop residues can be effectively used in brick kilns and thermal power plants at an industrial scale.
