•”Straw is a resource, not waste”: Gurmeet Khudian urges farmers to shun burning, adopt scientific management to protect soil health and environment
Chandigarh/ Gurdaspur, September 21:
Leading from the front in the fight against stubble burning, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Monday drove a baler tractor and made paddy straw bales in a farmer’s field at Purian Khurd village in Batala of Gurdaspur district, sending out a clear message that “straw is a resource, not waste.”
The demonstration marked the official start of paddy harvesting and straw management in the state, with the Agriculture Minister seeking to drive home the message that paddy straw can be scientifically managed and converted into a valuable resource instead of being burnt.
Highlighting the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government’s push for mechanised straw management, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the state is providing 50% subsidy to individual farmers and 80% to Custom Hiring Centres, FPOs, cooperative societies and Gram Panchayats for Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines.
Backed by a ₹576-crore action plan for 2026-27, the initiative has delivered results, with stubble-burning cases dropping by 90 per cent — from 49,922 in 2022 to 5,114 in 2025 — earning Punjab national recognition for its crop residue management strategy, he added.
Appealing to farmers not to set paddy straw on fire, S. Khudian urged them to manage residue scientifically by using CRM machines to protect soil health and the environment.
“Paddy straw is not waste, it is a resource. We must stop burning it and adopt scientific management. Optimum use of CRM machines will help farmers manage residue effectively while increasing income,” he stated.
He said stubble burning damages soil fertility, causes air pollution and poses serious health risks, especially for children and the elderly, adding that the state government is committed to supporting farmers with machinery, awareness and technical guidance.
The Agriculture Minister called for collective efforts by farmers, officials and village stakeholders to make Punjab a stubble-burning-free state. He urged farmers to cooperate with the administration and join the campaign against stubble burning, stressing that a clean environment and sustainable agriculture are a shared responsibility.
