NEW DELHI: As North India braces for the annual post-harvest smog, the Punjab government has rolled out its ambitious Action Plan-2025, aimed at eliminating stubble burning while transforming crop residue into new economic opportunities for farmers.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who launched the plan, said the government has signed a landmark MoU with Deloitte to help convert stubble into “green gold” through innovative technologies and sustainable business models. “Punjab’s farmer is our pride. We consider stubble not a problem but an opportunity. This plan will not only clean the state’s air but also empower farmers economically,” he said.
Stubble to Wealth
Under the ₹500 crore Action Plan, stubble will be converted into bio-energy, organic fertilizer, and electricity, creating additional income sources for farmers. The Centre has also provided ₹150 crore support, enabling the purchase of more than 15,000 super seeders and balers at subsidized rates.
The pilot project in 17 villages of Patiala last year proved the effectiveness of this model, reducing farm fires by over 80%. Building on this success, the state plans to add 4,367 subsidized machines, strengthen 1,500 Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs), and manage 20.5 million tons of stubble through in-situ and ex-situ methods, including promoting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) on 5 lakh acres.
Farmers as Entrepreneurs
The government estimates that proper utilization of 19 million tons of stubble could give lakhs of farmers additional annual earnings in lakhs of rupees. With Deloitte’s support, Punjab will establish biomass power projects and biogas plants, where farmers can sell their stubble at profitable rates.
Awareness and Technology Push
Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced a strong outreach campaign with village-level meetings, awareness vans, inspirational videos, and IEC activities under the mascot Unnat Singh. Farmers will also get access to the new ‘Krishi Yantra Saathi’ mobile app, which allows easy booking and scheduling of farm machinery.
Health and Environment Benefits
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh emphasized that stubble burning has been a key factor behind rising respiratory diseases and air pollution in Punjab and Delhi NCR. He said the partnership with Deloitte offers a sustainable model for environmental protection and public health. According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board, only 82 fire incidents were recorded between September 15 and 27 this year — a 16% drop compared to last year.
A Greener Punjab
From just 36,551 fire cases in 2022 to 10,479 in 2023, Punjab has already shown progress in controlling stubble burning. With the new plan, the state hopes to make “Zero Burning, Double Earning” a reality, turning crop residue into a driver of growth.
