*•Mulcher, MB Plough, Zero Till Drill & Baling Machine in Top Five Most Procured Machines: Gurmeet Khudian*
*•CM Mann-led Punjab Govt’s concerted efforts drive 90% drop in stubble burning from 49,922 cases in 2022 to 5,114 in 2025, says Khudian*
*• Agriculture Minister credits 50% subsidy for individual farmers, 80% for CHCs, FPOs & Panchayats for record shift towards eco-friendly residue management*
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 21:
In a decisive push to bring the stubble burning incidents to zero in the state, Punjab farmers have procured 21,019 Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines this season, with the Super Seeder emerging as the top choice among the farming community, said Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
The massive procurement, driven by 50% to 80% subsidy, marks a paradigm shift in residue management- from burning stubble to treating it as an asset for sustainable agriculture, he added.
Highlighting the top five most sought-after machines, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the Super Seeder has emerged as the absolute favourite among farmers, with a record 14,274 units procured. After the Super Seeder, the Mulcher with 1,721 units and the Hydraulic Reversible MB Plough with 1,346 units were the second and third most popular choices. The Zero Till Drill and Baling Machine completed the top five with 1,123 and 927 units, respectively. Other equipment including Straw Rakes (874 units) also saw significant adoption, he added.
Attributing the shift to the state government's robust subsidy scheme, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said a 50% subsidy for individual farmers and 80% for Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), FPOs, cooperative societies and panchayats is being provided for the purchase of CRM machines.
The Agriculture Minister said that backed by a robust Rs 576-crore action plan for 2026-27, these concerted efforts have resulted in a 90% drop in stubble-burning cases- from 49,922 in 2022 to just 5,114 in 2025- earning Punjab national recognition for its crop residue management strategy.
"The substantial subsidy and aggressive awareness drives have convinced our farmers to treat crop residue as an asset rather than a liability," he stated.
The Agriculture Minister noted that machines like the Super Seeder and Zero Till Drill allow farmers to sow wheat directly into paddy residue, saving time and conserving soil moisture, while the Balers and Rake machines facilitate ex-situ utilisation of straw for power generation and animal fodder.
Reiterating Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of Annadatas, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the state government stands firmly shoulder-to-shoulder with its farmers. He also urged farmers to make optimum use of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines and shun the practice of stubble burning, stating that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility and every farmer's contribution is vital to securing a healthy future for coming generations.
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