Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Champions Paddy Straw Management to Combat Stubble Burning

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is pushing for an extensive awareness campaign aimed at educating farmers on paddy straw management. The initiative emphasizes subsidy provisions, reducing management costs, and leveraging technology, notably the 'Unnat Kisan' mobile app. This multifaceted approach aims to substantially cut down stubble burning incidents.

In a drive to combat rising stubble burning incidents, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday emphasized the need for a sustained awareness campaign targeting farmers. Mann, chairing a crucial meeting on crop residue management, stressed that farmers must be educated on the adverse effects of paddy straw burning through comprehensive communication efforts, according to an official statement.

The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of subsidies on straw management equipment and directed the creation of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) at village levels. Mann also announced that the state government is actively encouraging farmers to utilize these resources, making crop residue management cost-effective. Furthermore, he underscored the role of the newly launched 'Unnat Kisan' mobile application, a one-stop platform mapping over 1.30 lakh crop residue management machines, to simplify the booking process for farmers.

The Chief Minister noted a significant decline in fire incidents due to the massive campaign and advanced machinery. Statistics reveal a 30 percent reduction in fire incidents from 2021-22 to 2022-23, and a further 26 percent decrease from 2022-23 to 2023-24. With these efforts, the state witnessed a total reduction of 52 percent in fire incidents between 2020-21 and 2023-24.

(With inputs from agencies.)