Instead of burning crop residue, Radha Mohan Singh, Agriculture Minister, appealed to the farmers to adopt new methods like using waste for biogas production. While 50-80 per cent subsidy for crop residue management machineries is provided by the Central Government, a provision of Rs 11.5 billion for two years under a scheme for states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR has been made.
Under the submission on agricultural mechanisation, 40 per cent subsidy is given on straw rake, straw baler, loader, etc. The government’s agri-research body ICAR’s two centres have developed and installed a plant for biogas production using paddy straw. Also, 80 per cent of the project cost for establishing Farm Machinery Banks for custom hiring of crop residue management machinery has been provided to farmers group. The management of crop residue in the field will help the soil become more fertile, thereby, resulting in the savings of Rs 2,000 per hectare from the farmer’s manure cost.