Haryana Government With Assistance Of Deloitte Conducts Pilot To Combat Stubble Burning

The state government of Haryana, in collaboration with Deloitte, has successfully concluded a pilot project on 'Crop Residue Management' (CRM) in Karnal. This project aimed to address the issue of stubble burning and air pollution in the region. The pilot program was implemented in the red zone villages of Karnal district, resulting in a significant reduction of 69% in the number of stubble-burning incidents.

To effectively engage farmers, communities, and private sector partners in a campaign aimed at managing crop residue, a mobile application called "Krishi Yantra Sathi" was developed. This app brought together all the relevant stakeholders, including local farmers, Custom Hiring Centres (CHC), and Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs), to match farmers' equipment needs to manage crop residue with the right equipment owners. By facilitating efficient and rapid allocation of machinery, the application encouraged the adoption of more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods of utilizing stubble while also generating employment opportunities for local communities.

In addition, a novel initiative was created and put into action to educate farmers in the Karnal district about the negative consequences of burning crop residue, as well as provide them with knowledge about the government's programs and schemes for managing crop residue. This comprehensive awareness program comprised a variety of initiatives, such as broadcasting radio jingles, producing videos, conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns, sending regular WhatsApp messages, showcasing videos featuring the "Progressive Farmer Mascot- Parivartan Prakash", and distributing calendars and tote bags with specific messaging.

Narhari Bangar, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in Haryana, announced that they intend to expand their initiative to address fires in the state. They have already developed a working, replicable model with proof of concept and are now planning to scale it up in the eight districts responsible for 90% of fires in Haryana, namely Fatehabad, Sirsa, Jind, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, and Karnal.

Aditya Partap Dabas, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in Karnal, announced that due to the department's diligence and proactive efforts, approximately INR 90 crores in subsidies for ex-situ and in-situ equipment have been given to 702 CHCs and 3860 individual farmers since 2018. Furthermore, an estimated INR 18 crores in equipment subsidies will be distributed this year. Additionally, every farmer in the Karnal district who has adopted the 'Parali Fasal Prabandhan' technique will receive a subsidy of INR 1000 per acre.

Viral Thakker, Partner and Sustainability Leader at Deloitte India stated that the burning of farmland during the time between crop cycles is a widespread issue in northern India. This problem has significant environmental consequences and inflicts a heavy toll on human lives. One of the reasons for stubble burning is the unavailability of stubble removal equipment such as super-seeders and balers at the appropriate time. The lack of equipment particularly affects small and marginal farmers. As a result, Deloitte supported an initiative aimed at establishing a sustainable ecosystem that helps address the equipment availability gap.

Also Read:- 

Ag-Tech Company Agreena Raises $50 Million In Funding

Madhya Pradesh Govt Promotes Use Of Drones, 6000 Young Farmers To Get Trained

Mahindra’s AgTech Business Krish-e Launches Smart Kit for Farm Equipment