Dept shifts focus to 10 Haryana districts to curb stubble burning

After achieving a 39% drop in active fire locations (AFLs) during the last paddy season compared to 2023, the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has identified 10 districts with the highest stubble burning cases for targeted action.

The focus districts are Fatehabad, Jind, Kaithal, Ambala, Sirsa, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Hisar, Yamunanagar, and Sonepat. Deputy Commissioners of these districts have been directed to implement stricter measures to check crop residue burning.

“DCs of these districts have been requested to adopt special measures for prevention of crop residue burning and to promote sustainable farming practices. A focused approach should be followed in red and yellow zone villages and major paddy growing villages. Officials have also been directed to launch massive awareness camps following a micro-level approach,” a senior official said.

While these districts are under close watch, many have already recorded significant declines in stubble burning cases. From September 15 to November 30, 2024, Fatehabad’s cases dropped from 579 in 2023 to 130, Jind from 343 to 218, Kaithal from 262 to 194, Ambala from 195 to 99, Sirsa from 188 to 162, Kurukshetra from 154 to 132, Karnal from 126 to 96, Hisar from 111 to 49, Yamunanagar from 98 to 38, and Sonepat from 78 to 70. Some districts like Panipat saw a rise, with cases increasing from 25 to 41.

Meanwhile, work has begun on creating a paddy crop residue supply chain under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) component. Farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), panchayats, and Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) were invited to apply for subsidies. The last date for individual farmers is August 20; other categories closed on August 7. Around 50 farmers have applied so far for back-end subsidies to purchase residue management machinery.

Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Karnal, said the department is offering subsidies under the 2025–26 CRM Scheme for equipment such as Super SMS, balers, happy seeders, rotary slashers, mulchers, reversible MB ploughs, zero-till drills, super seeders, surface seeders, crop reapers, loaders, and tedders. “Individual farmers will receive either a 50% subsidy or the approved departmental rate, whichever is lower,” he said.

Applicants must apply online at www.agriharyana.gov.in and be registered on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal for rabi 2025 and kharif 2024 crops. “Only one member per family ID can apply, and those who have received a subsidy for a specific implement in the past three years are not eligible to apply for the same implement again,” Dr Singh added.

The selection will be made by a district-level executive committee headed by the DC.