In a significant move to manage paddy straw scientifically and reduce farm fires, Punjab Government on Thursday announced the provision of over 22,000 Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines on subsidy.

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, announcing this during a review meeting of departmental schemes and projects, emphasized the urgency of the initiative, instructing officials to ensure that the draw of lots for the subsidized CRM machines is conducted within this month. He also directed that the subsidy be released to beneficiary farmers by the end of August 2024, well before the start of the paddy harvesting season. This timeline is critical for achieving the government’s ambitious goal of reducing farm fires to zero.

“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government has laid out an action plan of Rs 500 crore to make CRM machinery available to farmers on subsidy during the paddy harvest season 2024-25,” stated Minister Khudian. “Individual farmers can avail 50 percent subsidy on the cost of CRM equipment, while cooperative societies, FPOs, and panchayats are eligible for an 80 percent subsidy.”

The Minister appreciated the positive response from state farmers towards the Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) technique. He highlighted that there has been a 28 percent increase in the area under DSR this year compared to last year, with 2.20 lakh acres already sown directly, up from 1.72 lakh acres in 2023.

“The target for this season is to achieve five lakh acres under DSR. To further encourage this water-conserving technique, the Punjab Government is providing Rs 1,500 as financial assistance to farmers opting for DSR,” he said.

Reviewing the status of maize kharif sowing, the Minister noted that the state is offering a subsidy of Rs 100 per kilogram on the purchase of hybrid maize seeds.

Agriculture Director Jaswant Singh informed the Minister that kharif maize has already been sown in one lakh acres, with the target being two lakh acres. This initiative aims to diversify crop patterns and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Stressing the importance of quality control in agriculture inputs, the Minister directed the department officials to continue stringent actions against the sale of spurious or substandard seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. “No one indulged in these malpractices will be spared,” said the Minister, reinforcing the Punjab Government’s commitment to ensuring that state farmers have access to high-quality agricultural inputs.