Centre Releases ₹496 Cr For 4 States To Reduce Stubble Burning

Mumbai: Delhi has been in constant struggle with Air pollution. The air quality in Delhi is the worst of many major cities in the world. The burning to crop residues is one of the major contributions to this degrading air quality. Addressing this issue, the center has released Rs. 496 crores to subsidize machinery required in-situ management of crop residue.

Mr. Sanjay Aggarwal, Secretary of Union Ministry of Agriculture informed that the funds are for 4 states i.e., Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.

“For the year 2021-22 fund amounting Rs. 235 crores have been released for Punjab, Rs. 141 crores for Haryana, Rs. 115 for Uttar Pradesh, and Rs. 5 crores for Delhi. Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and other central agencies also received Rs.54.99 Crores.” Aggarwal informed.

Microlevel plans at village and block are needed to find the problem and accordingly strategies to reduce crop residue burning. The center has been working for the past three years and set 30,900 custom hiring centers to provide equipment required for crop residue management to small and marginal farmers. Since 2018 to 2021 the center has already released Rs. 1,749 crores to address the issue of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

The increase in the minimum support price (MSP) given by the government to the farmers during procurement of crops, the secretary said that the MSP approved for Rabi Crops is higher or equal to 1.5 times the cost price.

“The excepted returns to the farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in of wheat which is around 100%, followed by mustard 100%, lentil 79% and barley 60% and safflower 50%,” he said.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.