Punjab: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is taking decisive and practical steps to promote scientific crop residue management to tackle environmental challenges, improve soil health and enhance farmers’ income.
Addressing a state-level conference organised by ASAR in collaboration with Canopy, Gurmeet Singh Khudian said Punjab has successfully transformed the long-standing issue of paddy stubble into an economic and ecological opportunity.
Gurmeet Singh Khudian informed that the state’s sustained efforts have delivered strong results, with stubble burning incidents dropping by 53 per cent during the Kharif season of 2025. The number of cases fell to 5,114 in 2025, compared to 10,909 in 2024. The minister attributed this decline to the large-scale availability of subsidised Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery, financial incentives and practical alternatives for utilising crop residue.
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Gurmeet Singh Khudian said Punjab now scientifically manages more than 80 per cent of its annual paddy stubble, estimated at around 20 million tonnes, through advanced in-situ and ex-situ techniques that help enrich soil health. He added that crop residue is increasingly being used for biomass-based power generation, bio-CNG plants and bio-ethanol projects, creating new energy sources as well as employment opportunities.
“What was once smoke is now turning into energy, industry and jobs,” Gurmeet Singh Khudian said.
Highlighting the long-term vision, Gurmeet Singh Khudian said scientific residue management is directly benefiting farmers by generating rural employment and local opportunities for youth. He noted that converting crop residue into fuel, energy and packaging material supports inclusive and sustainable development while strengthening village economies.
Inviting industry participation, the Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said Punjab offers strong potential for green and sustainable businesses and is well-positioned to emerge as India’s first true circular economy region. He added that by converting stubble into value instead of pollution, Punjab is demonstrating that environmental protection and economic growth can progress together.