The Centre has allocated Rs 544.15 crore under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme for 2026–27 while strengthening efforts to convert agricultural residue into biogas, bioenergy and other industrial uses as part of a broader strategy to reduce stubble burning.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the first instalment of Rs 272.07 crore has already been released. The government is increasingly focusing on creating long-term economic value from crop residue through biomass power generation, compressed biogas (CBG), ethanol production and pellet manufacturing, alongside field-level residue management, IANS reported.
Introduced in 2018–19 to address stubble burning, the CRM scheme has so far provided total financial assistance of Rs 4,266.47 crore to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
With this support, more than 3.54 lakh crop residue management machines have been distributed and over 43,500 Custom Hiring Centres have been established across participating states.
Progress under the programme and preparations for the upcoming paddy harvesting season were reviewed during a high-level inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav.
During the meeting, Chouhan said stubble burning damages environmental quality and soil health by destroying beneficial insects, reducing soil fertility and contributing to pollution that affects public health.
States have set expanded targets for the current year, including distribution of more than 46,000 crop residue management machines, establishment of 910 Custom Hiring Centres and development of 141 stubble supply chain projects.
Officials also reviewed state action plans for managing an estimated 2.762 crore tonnes of paddy residue expected during the 2026 harvesting season.
Chouhan said coordinated efforts by the Centre, state governments, ICAR institutions, Agricultural Science Centres, local bodies and farmers have helped reduce stubble burning incidents in recent years.
Both ministers emphasised accelerating the use of crop residue through biomass-based power plants, compressed biogas facilities, ethanol production units and pellet manufacturing, stating that such initiatives can create a stable market for agricultural residue while turning farm waste into a source of energy and economic value.
