Chandigarh, February 25 The Punjab government has disbursed ₹395 crore as subsidies for the purchase of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery during 2025-26 to curb stubble burning in the state, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Wednesday.
He said the government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has provided subsidies ranging from 50 to 80 per cent to 5,358 beneficiaries, including Gram Panchayats, Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), individual farmers, and supply chains.
Khudian said that 1,151 new CHCs have been established by 66 cooperative societies to ensure easy access to machinery for small and marginal farmers.
The beneficiaries include 1,042 rural entrepreneurs, 28 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and 15 Gram Panchayats.
He also said that 4,181 individual farmers have also been provided with CRM machines under the scheme.
In addition, 26 paddy supply chains have been established to collect and transport paddy straw to biomass plants and industrial units, promoting its use for commercial purposes.
The minister said that the financial support reflects the government's commitment to farmers and environmental protection.
He added that these efforts have led to a 53 per cent decline in stubble burning cases during the Kharif 2025 season, with incidents dropping from 10,909 in 2024 to 5,114.