24 October 2025, Ludhiana
Reaffirming the Union Government’s commitment to eliminate paddy residue burning, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in collaboration with the Punjab State Agriculture Department, organized an Interface Workshop on Crop Residue Management today at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The workshop aimed to address farmers’ concerns regarding paddy straw management and to promote sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to stubble burning.
Officials from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, along with a large number of farmers, scientists, and industry representatives, participated in the event to deliberate on practical and scalable solutions for effective crop residue management.
Mr. P.K. Meherda, Additional Secretary, DA&FW, was the Chief Guest, while Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, and Ms. S. Rukhmani, Joint Secretary (M&T), DA&FW, graced the occasion as the Guests of Honour.
In his address, Mr. Meherda acknowledged the persistent challenge of stubble burning but appreciated the significant progress made in Punjab, citing a notable reduction in fire incidents due to heightened awareness among farmers. He emphasized that sustainable management of paddy straw not only enhances soil health and conserves vital resources such as water and nutrients but also creates economic opportunities for farmers and allied industries.
Dr. Rajbir Singh highlighted ICAR’s pivotal role in research, awareness generation, and extension activities under the national initiative to curb crop residue burning. Expressing concern over the under-utilization of subsidized crop residue management machinery, he underscored the need for strict monitoring to prevent malpractices in subsidy implementation. He reaffirmed ICAR’s commitment to achieving “Mission Zero Crop Residue Burning” through active engagement of Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
The workshop was also attended by eminent dignitaries including Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU; Dr. Jaswant Singh, Director of Agriculture, Punjab; Mr. Rajnarayan Kaushik (IAS), Director of Agriculture, Haryana; Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana; and Dr. M.S. Bhullar, Director, Extension Education, PAU.
During the interactive sessions, farmers shared their experiences with innovative and cost-effective CRM practices and suggested the creation of a priority list of progressive farmers for the allocation of CRM machinery. Participants also emphasized the importance of ensuring quality standards in straw pellet production by industry players.
Landless farmers raised concerns regarding limited access to bank loans, pointing out that only government banks currently provide credit facilities, and that cooperative societies face challenges in availing loans despite subsidies under zero-burning initiatives.
Experts from PAU and various ICAR institutes presented insights on recent research outcomes, innovations in residue decomposition, cost–benefit analyses, and region-specific machinery adaptations. Central and state officials discussed policy frameworks, incentive mechanisms, and strategies to scale up CRM adoption across high-risk zones.
The workshop concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen inter-agency coordination and farmer participation towards achieving sustainable, zero-burning agricultural practices across the region.
(Source: Punjab Agricultural University and ICAR- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana)
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