Question : Management of Crop Residues

(a) whether the Government has formulated the ''National Policy for Management of Crop Residues (NPMCR), to ensure prevention of burning of crop residues in the country and if so, the details and achievements thereof;

(b) whether the States/UTs have not strictly followed the said policy;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor along with the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has recently convened a meeting with the States to discuss issues of crop residue management;

(e) if so, the details of issues discussed and the outcome thereof; and

(f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for scientific crop residue management in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) to (c): Yes. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has formulated a “National Policy for Management of Crop Residue (NPMCR) in year 2014 to curb residue burning for prevention of soil and environmental degradation.

NPMCR has been circulated to all the states including Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for implementation. MoEF&CC has also advised all the states to issue an advisory in multimedia mode at state as well as local levels to farmers for prevention of burning of crop residues and to facilitate diversified use of crop residues as fuel for power plants, production of cellulosic ethanol, paper/board and packing material etc. in public-private partnership mode. However, as per the seventh schedule of the constitution of India, land and agriculture fall under the purview of the State Governments and, therefore, it is for the State Governments to bring suitable policy/legislation to prevent burning of crop residue.
Contd…2/-

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(d) & (e): A meeting was convened under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on 8.11.2016 to discuss various issues regarding crop residue management. This meeting was attended by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, senior officers of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and representative of State Agriculture Departments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Issues related crop residue management and stubble burning of paddy were discussed and suggested to the states to promote various farm machinery and implements like happy seeder, rotavator, zero till seed drill, paddy straw chopper, reaper binder etc. for the management of crop residues under various crop development programmes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) and Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), state plan etc.

(f): Government is also recommending scientific technological interventions namely composting of crop residue, production of bio gas, In-situ incorporation of crop residue through conservation agriculture practices, mushroom cultivation and preparation of feed for livestock, production of bio-fuel, bio-oil and bio-char in the country.






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