In Situ Crop Residue Management

• 24 Jul 2019

The Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of agricultural mechanization for In-Situ management of crop residue in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and National capital territory of Delhi’ has been launched for the period from 2018-19 to 2019-20.

• The scheme aims to address the problem of air pollution (caused due to stubble burning in the areas of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and National capital territory of Delhi) by subsidizing the machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue.

Objectives

• Reducing the air pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil microorganisms caused by burning of crop residue.
• Promoting in-situ management of crop residue through the use of appropriate mechanization inputs.
• Promoting Farm Machinery Banks (FMB) or Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) for custom hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small landholding and high cost of individual ownership.
• Creating awareness among stakeholders through:
  
  • Demonstration of crop residue management methods
  • Capacity building activities
  • Education and communication strategies for effective utilization and management of crop residue

Implementation

• By providing financial assistance to:
  
  • Farmers for procurement of in-situ crop residue management machinery and equipments.
  • Co-operative societies of farmers, self-help groups, registered farmers societies / farmers groups, private entrepreneurs for establishment of farm machinery banks or custom hiring centres.
  • State governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) , Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions, Central Government institutions, Public Sector Units (PSU) etc. for the activities to be undertaken towards Information, Education and Communication (IEC).

Need

• Stubble burning releases particulate matter, CO, CO₂, ash and SO₂ and these gases affect human health due to general degradation in air quality resulting in aggravation of eye and skin diseases.
• Stubble burning results not only into loss of nutrients from soil but also alters soil properties like soil temperature, pH, moisture, available phosphorus and soil organic matter.

Source: PIB