Under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme for providing agri-machinery to the farmers before commencing of paddy harvesting season, the Punjab Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department has sanctioned 31,970 agri-machinery/equipments for individual farmers, Primary Agriculture Cooperatives Societies (PACS), Panchayats and Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs) so far.
Disclosing this here today, the Director Agriculture Sukhdev Singh Sidhu said that the department has already given approval to 10297 applications till date, received from PACS, Panchayats, CHCs registered under Farmers Societies and individual farmers for purchasing of 31970 agri-machines/equipments to combat the menace of stubble burning. He further said that the department has issued sanctions under five phases for purchasing paddy straw management machines/equipments by which 10023 machines sanctioned for individual farmers 15498 machines for CHCs, 5543 for Panchayats, 906 for PACS on 50% to 80% subsidy thus taking total number approved machines to 31970 till date.In order to supply the requisite machinery to farmers, Mr. Sidhu said that the department has fully geared up to complete the task of distribution of these implements well before paddy harvesting season.
He also humbly requested all the applicants who have received sanctions to procure agri-machines/equipment as soon as possible. He further said that 76,626 paddy straw management machines were given on subsidy to the farmers in the last three years.The Director further said that Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Moga and Mansa were also identified as hotspot districts, where most of paddy stubble burning cases were reported in the past.
He said that the state government was also making all out efforts to deploy a special task force for enforcement and regulatory measures in these districts so as to ensure the prevention of stubble burning incidents in the ensuing paddy harvesting season.
Under CRM scheme, the State government has focused to deliver state-of-the-art machines to farmers including Super SMS, Super Seeder, Happy Seeder, Paddy Straw Chopper/Shredder/Mulcher, Hydraulic Reversible Mould Board Plough and Zero Till Drill for in-situ management and baler and rake in ex-situ machines have been made available on subsidy for the ease of the farmers.
