Question : Disposal of Farm Residue

(a) whether the Government provides subsidy to farmers for buying various machines and tools to dispose of farm residue so that they don’t burn farm waste which leads to environment degradation, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether the subsidy varies between 50 per cent to 80 per cent and the firms which are empanelled are very few and they sell these tools to farmers at very high cost which is most of the time double the market rate, if so, whether instead of empanelling few firms here and there, farmers should be allowed to buy tools from open market?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Paddy stubble burning is mainly practiced in Indo-Gangetic plains of the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to clear the fields for Rabi crop sowing. To address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ is being implemented. Under this scheme, subsidy is provided for buying machines identified for in-situ management of crop residues.
(b): Under the aforementioned scheme, subsidy @ 50% is provided to the farmers for purchase of machines on individual ownership basis and subsidy @ 80% is provided to the Co-operative Societies of farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations, Self-Help Groups, Registered Farmers Societies/Farmers Groups, Private Entrepreneurs and Group of women Farmers for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres of in-situ crop residue management machinery. With a view to make available tested, standardized & better quality machines with proper after sales service, the Department has empanelled sufficient number of manufacturers (273 numbers) by way of inviting online Expression of Interest on competitive market rates inclusive of Goods and Service Tax @ 12%. The beneficiaries are free to procure any brand of the machines as per their choice from the empanelled list.
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