Delays in crop residue management incentives may discourage farmers

Farmers who adopted crop residue management practices are still waiting for the promised incentive of Rs 1,000 per acre, even after the verification of their land. Agricultural experts believe that the delay in disbursing incentives may discourage farmers from adopting such practices under the in-situ and ex-situ methods.

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Here is what you need to know about the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme and the incentives provided by the government.

What kind of incentive is provided to farmers?

To tackle the persistent issue of stubble burning, which leads to severe air pollution and worsens smog conditions during winter, the government introduced the CRM scheme. Under this scheme, farmers adopting in-situ and ex-situ methods of stubble management are entitled to receiving an incentive of Rs 1,000 per acre. The scheme aims at encouraging farmers to manage crop residue without burning it, thereby reducing air pollution and improving soil fertility. In addition to financial incentives, subsidies are provided for purchasing stubble management machines, such as straw balers, happy seeders and paddy straw choppers to facilitate proper residue disposal.

Why is there a delay in disbursing the incentives?

As per data of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, after the verification process, claims for 1,90,963 acres out of the 2,34,616.05 acres registered under the scheme were found to be genuine. The shortage of funds is said to be a primary reason for the delay. The verification process for registered land took time and the required funds for incentive disbursement were not allocated in advance, leading to significant delays.

How many farmers have benefited from subsidized machinery?

Subsidies are provided to individual farmers and farmer groups for purchasing stubble management machines such as straw balers, happy seeders, paddy straw choppers, mulchers, rotary plows, super seeders, zero-till drills, hay rakes, and self-propelled crop reapers, which play a crucial role in stubble management. This year, 837 subsidy cases worth Rs 10.69 crore were submitted, out of which Rs 6 crore has been disbursed for 720 cases. In comparison, last year, Rs 15 crore was given as a subsidy, while in 2022-23, Rs 4 crore was provided.

How much has the number of stubble-burning cases decreased over the years?

The CRM scheme has significantly reduced stubble-burning cases. Karnal recorded only 96 active fire locations (AFLs) in the last paddy season (August 15 to November 30, 2024), compared to 128 in 2023, 301 in 2022, and 997 in 2021.