The Union ministries of Agriculture and Environment have launched an intensified effort to prevent stubble burning during the current paddy harvesting season. At a meeting held on 13 October 2026 at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav directed state governments and district administrations to treat crop residue management as an urgent priority and shift from paper-based planning to ground-level action.
The meeting brought together agriculture ministers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi-NCR, along with senior Central and state officials. Both ministers stressed that the window between paddy harvesting and rabi crop sowing is narrow, leaving little time for delayed action on stubble management.
Key facts
- The Central Government has provided 3.54 lakh crop residue management machines to states since the scheme began, including 26,109 new machines in 2026-27
- Between September 15 and October 12, 2026, stubble-burning incidents declined by 53.3 per cent in Haryana and 32 per cent in Uttar Pradesh compared to the same period last year
- Stubble-burning incidents increased in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, prompting special action directives
- The Centre released ₹4,266.47 crore under the Crop Residue Management scheme from 2018-19 to 2025-26, including ₹2,056.50 crore to Punjab, ₹1,171.71 crore to Haryana, ₹868.67 crore to Uttar Pradesh and ₹59 crore to Madhya Pradesh
- For 2026-27, ₹592.57 crore has been allocated, of which ₹430.87 crore has already been released
- Special monitoring directed for districts including Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Patiala and Gurdaspur in Punjab, and Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Fatehabad in Haryana
Why stubble burning must stop
Stubble burning destroys beneficial soil microorganisms and burns away essential nutrients, turning them into ash. This damages long-term soil health and agricultural productivity. The practice also causes air pollution, particularly affecting the National Capital Region during the harvest season. The government’s approach reframes stubble not as waste to be burned, but as a resource for farmers.
Converting stubble to income
Rather than simply banning stubble burning, the government is promoting alternatives that give farmers economic incentives. Crop residue incorporated into soil becomes organic manure. When removed from fields, it can be processed into bio-CNG, bio-ethanol, electricity and animal fodder, generating additional farmer income. The Centre has directed state governments to establish direct links between farmers and industries such as thermal power plants, compressed biogas facilities and second-generation bio-ethanol plants. In drought-affected areas, stubble will be collected and stored for use as livestock fodder.
Machinery support and subsidies
The Agriculture Minister emphasised that providing machinery is crucial. The government has directed authorities to repair non-functional older machines and bring them back into operation, alongside distributing new equipment. Custom Hiring Centres must be activated to ensure small and marginal farmers can access crop residue management machinery at subsidised rates. The minister stressed that equipment must be genuinely available to farmers when needed, rather than remaining on paper or unused.
Financial support from Centre
The Central Government has committed substantial funds for crop residue management. However, the Agriculture Minister expressed concern over slow utilisation of allocated funds. Punjab has been specifically urged to submit Utilisation Certificates promptly so that the next instalment can be released without delay. Timely fund release is essential to ensure farmers receive the resources and equipment they need during the critical harvest window.
Ground-level monitoring and enforcement
The Environment Minister stressed that satellite monitoring alone is insufficient. District collectors must undertake ground-level assessments and strengthen field enforcement. He called for strict surveillance during the evening hours after 3 PM, when no satellite passes occur. This gap period requires particular attention to detect and prevent stubble-burning incidents. Data from stubble-burning incidents must be integrated with the Commission for Air Quality Management and Central Pollution Control Board for more effective monitoring.
Promoting faster-maturing paddy varieties
The government is also encouraging adoption of improved, short-duration paddy varieties such as Pusa 2090 and PR126, replacing longer-duration varieties like Pusa-44. Earlier harvests would give farmers sufficient time to clear their fields before sowing the next crop, reducing pressure to burn stubble quickly.
What this means for farmers and states
Farmers can access subsidised machinery through Custom Hiring Centres to manage crop residue rather than burning it. They now have multiple income sources from stubble: selling to bio-CNG plants, thermal power units, or using it as fodder. States must treat stubble management as a priority and ensure district administrations implement practical ground-level solutions. Districts in Punjab and Haryana showing increase in stubble burning have been directed to prepare special action plans immediately. The Centre has assured all states of technical, administrative and financial support to achieve this goal.