Cabinet approves promotion of Agri Mechanisation for mgmt. of crop residue

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given its approval for promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for in-situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi. The total outgo from the Central funds would be Rs 1,151.80 crore (Rs 591.65 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 560.15 crore in 2019-20).

The components of the scheme include establishment of Farm Machinery Banks for Custom Hiring of in -situ crop residue management machinery. Financial assistance @80% of the project cost will be provided to the cooperative societies of the farmers, FPOs, Self Help Groups, Registered Farmers Societies/ Farmers Group, Private Entrepreneurs, Group of Women Farmers, financial assistance @50% of the machinery/ equipment to the individual farmer for crop residue management, and Information, Education and Communication for awareness on in-situ crop residue management.

Financial assistance will be provided to the State Government/ KVKs, ICAR Institutes, Central Government Institutes, PSUs etc. for the activities to be undertaken towards information, education and communication, according to a PIB release.

The activities will involve mass awareness campaigns through short and long films, documents, radio and TV programmes, demonstration camps at various levels, capacity building programme, advertisement in print media, star campaigning, award for Village/ Gram Panchayat for achieving Zero Straw Burning, panel discussions on Doordarshan, DD Kisan and other private channels, etc.

As per budget 2018-19 announcement, a special scheme to support the efforts of the Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue, a new Central Sector Scheme (100% Central share) in this regard in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi for the period 2018-19 to 2019-20 has been proposed.