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Journalism of Courage
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Sunday that the state achieved a 90 per cent reduction in stubble burning incidents over the past nine years.
“Stubble burning has long been a major contributor to air pollution. To address this issue, we have educated farmers and provided over one lakh machines for crop residue management on subsidy. As a result, there has been a 90 per cent decline in stubble burning incidents since 2016,” Saini said, addressing a gathering after inaugurating Rabi Agriculture Fair organised by Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar.
Earlier, the chief minister had stated that there was a 39 per cent reduction in stubble burning incidents in 2024 compared to 2023. “To further address the issue, the state government has developed an action plan for 2025, including a provision for an approximately Rs 200 crore subsidy for the purchase of crop residue management machines.”
Saini said in recent years, stubble burning has become a major issue, adversely impacting the health of the people. “Given the seriousness of the issue, it is being closely monitored by the Supreme Court and the Air Quality Commission.”
The chief minister said that farmers in Haryana had been adopting advanced technologies and utilising the latest agricultural implements for crop residue management.
The chief minister said the need of the hour is to cultivate less water-intensive crops. “To promote such practices, the government launched the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme in 2020. Under the scheme, farmers growing alternative crops instead of paddy or leaving their fields fallow are provided Rs 8,000 per acre as financial assistance. So far, Rs 157 crore has been given to farmers for sowing alternative crops on 2.2 lakh acres.”
Saini added, “The government has also been encouraging micro-irrigation techniques such as rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. Farmers are being provided up to 85 per cent subsidy for adopting these technologies, and for the construction of ponds. In addition, 27 projects have been prepared to utilise treated water from sewage treatment plants for irrigation, out of which 11 have been completed. These projects will provide a sustainable source of irrigation, reduce pressure on canals, and help prevent over-exploitation of groundwater.”
Saini said being a farmer’s son, he had worked in the fields. “I understand the problems of farmers deeply. Before being the chief minister, I was a farmer. For me, the interests of farmers are always paramount.”
Referring to the excess rainfall and floods in kharif, Saini said, “The government has sought information on crop loss through the e-Kshatipurti portal to provide timely relief.”
He called upon agricultural scientists to develop waterlogging-resistant and drought-tolerant crop varieties to help farmers in adverse weather conditions.
