India to Implement Real-Time Monitoring to Prevent Stubble Burning: Agriculture Minister Chouhan
07 October 2025, New Delhi: A high-level meeting on stubble management was held today at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, chaired by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. The meeting focused on strategies to reduce air pollution caused by stubble burning and promote sustainable management of paddy residue.
State Participation and Discussion on Current Status
Agriculture Ministers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh — Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Shyam Singh Rana, and Surya Pratap Shahi respectively — along with Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, participated virtually. Senior officials from various central ministries, including Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi and ICAR Director General Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, were also present.
The discussion focused on the current situation of stubble management across northern states. Ministers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh shared updates on steps being taken to prevent stubble burning, emphasizing awareness drives, financial incentives, and machinery support for farmers.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan Stresses Farmer Awareness and Panchayat Participation
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appreciated the progress made by states but emphasized the need for continuous and coordinated action. He underlined that farmer awareness is the most critical aspect of effective stubble management.
He urged states to ensure participation of panchayats, local representatives, and nodal officers in sensitizing farmers about the environmental and economic benefits of alternative residue management. “If local leadership is actively involved, the results will be much stronger and long-lasting,” he said.
Promotion of Direct Sowing and Crop Diversification
The Union Minister highlighted direct seeding of wheat after paddy harvest, crop diversification, and on-ground planning as key measures to achieve sustainable results.
“I will personally demonstrate direct wheat sowing on my own field on October 12 after paddy harvest to encourage farmers to adopt this method,” Chouhan announced, adding that such steps would inspire farmers to follow suit.
He also advised the states to ensure proper utilization of funds for providing farmers with rotavators, choppers, mulchers, and bio-decomposers. Additionally, he urged the promotion of bio-CNG, ethanol, and compost units to enable the productive use of stubble as an industrial resource.
Call for Real-Time Monitoring and Long-Term Strategy
“Real-time monitoring is essential to ensure that stubble burning incidents are quickly identified and acted upon,” Chouhan stated. He added that with integrated and sustained efforts by the Centre and states, incidents of stubble burning can be significantly reduced.
He also stressed on crop diversification as a long-term approach to address the recurring problem of residue burning in northern India’s paddy belts.
Bhupender Yadav Calls for Better Coordination
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav commended the state governments for their proactive efforts and highlighted the need for better coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and the states in the next 10 days.
He emphasized the importance of stubble collection and storage, enabling its utilization in industrial units, brick kilns, and thermal power plants. “The goal is not just to stop stubble burning but to create value from what is currently considered waste,” he said.
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