Seminar on Policy Convergence for Crop Residue Management at 6th India Agri Expo 2026

31 January 2026, Ludhiana

ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana organized a high-level seminar on ‘Convergence for Change: Policy, Research and Extension in Crop Residue Management’ during the 6th India Agri Expo 2026 at the Ludhiana Exhibition Centre, Sahnewal.

The seminar underscored the critical role of policy convergence and coordinated action among government agencies, research institutions, extension systems, industry stakeholders, and farming communities to address the persistent challenge of crop residue burning and to accelerate adoption of sustainable alternatives in Punjab.

The programme was graced by Shri Hardeep Singh Mundian, Cabinet Minister for Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, Housing and Urban Development, Government of Punjab, as the Chief Guest. In his address, the Minister emphasized that effective crop residue management requires synergy between policy support, scientific innovations, mechanization, and last-mile extension, rather than isolated interventions. He highlighted the need for evidence-based policies, stronger institutional coordination, and inclusive stakeholder participation to achieve long-term environmental and agronomic sustainability.

The seminar witnessed participation from policymakers, agricultural scientists, extension professionals, industry representatives, Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) owners, aggregators, KVK Heads and scientists, and progressive farmers, reflecting a truly multi-stakeholder platform. Technical sessions focused on the status and challenges of crop residue management, innovations in farm machinery, policy perspectives of the Government of Punjab, remote sensing-based monitoring of residue burning, and emerging residue-to-energy pathways.

A panel discussion on ‘Convergence for Change’ emphasized the importance of institutional convergence, public–private partnerships, and inter-departmental coordination for scaling up proven technologies and practices.

The deliberations culminated in an open discussion that outlined a practical roadmap for strengthening policy alignment, improving service delivery through extension networks, enhancing access to machinery through CHCs, and promoting sustainable crop residue management practices across the state.

(Source: ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana)