The Centre on Tuesday, October 7, called for coordinated action among states to reduce stubble burning and control seasonal air pollution, as Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav jointly reviewed ongoing efforts in New Delhi. The meeting, held at Krishi Bhawan, brought together agriculture ministers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and Delhi’s environment minister, who joined virtually.
Awareness and coordination key, says Chouhan
Addressing the meeting, Chouhan said that lasting results in stubble management could only be achieved through awareness and participation at the grassroots. He urged states to involve panchayats, public representatives and nodal officers in educating farmers about sustainable residue management.
“The states are doing commendable work, but consistent effort is essential. Farmers must be made aware through village-level campaigns. If local leaders take the lead, the message will reach faster,” Chouhan said.
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He emphasised that awareness, financial support and effective monitoring should go hand in hand, adding that the Centre and states must work in close coordination to ensure smooth implementation of residue management schemes.
Push for direct seeding and crop diversification
Highlighting the need for practical and long-term solutions, Chouhan urged the states to promote direct seeding of wheat after paddy harvesting, saying it would help reduce stubble generation. He announced that he would begin direct seeding on his own farm on 12 October to demonstrate its benefits.
“Farmers will adopt the practice when they see the results themselves,” he said. The minister also encouraged the use of rotavators, choppers, bio-decomposers and mulching techniques to manage crop residue efficiently. He added that linking industries and thermal plants with bio-CNG and ethanol production units could provide viable use for the stubble.
Effective use of funds and monitoring essential
Chouhan directed states to ensure that funds released for stubble management are fully utilised and that machinery is made available to farmers at the right time. He called for focused planning, real-time monitoring and greater transparency in fund use.
He also underscored the importance of crop diversification, training and capacity building. “If we strengthen monitoring and ensure timely use of resources, results will follow. I am confident that joint efforts by the Centre and states will lead to a visible reduction in stubble burning,” he said.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who also addressed the meeting, lauded the states’ ongoing efforts but urged them to step up coordination with the Agriculture Ministry over the next ten days. He said that efficient collection and storage of crop residue were key to ensuring its use in industries and power plants.
“Collection and storage of stubble are crucial steps. If managed well, crop residue can become a valuable input for industrial and energy use,” Yadav said, stressing the need to expand the network of collection centres near industrial units.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Dr M.L. Jat, and senior officials from both ministries. State agriculture ministers briefed the Union ministers on their ongoing schemes, field-level action and the progress of financial assistance being extended to farmers.
