The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), recently organized the National Conference on Crop Residue Management. This gathering saw farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi come together to discuss and address their concerns and issues. The main aim was to tackle the recurring incidents of straw burning which have had significant reductions in the past few years —15% in 2018 as compared to 2017 and 41% as compared to 2016. A major outcome of the conference was a proposal to intensify In-Situ Management of Crop Residue to put an end to this environmentally damaging practice. An additional initiative was the launch of a multilingual mobile app, “Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) Farm Machinery,” specifically designed to assist farmers.
Intensifying In-Situ Management of Crop Residue
A central proposal of the conference was the intensification of In-Situ Management of Crop Residue. This approach aims to prevent the hazardous agricultural practice of straw burning. Straw burning, typically conducted to quickly clear fields for the next crop, releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, thus posing a severe threat to the environment. The fact that there has been a substantial decrease in these incidents is a positive sign that strategies to curb this practice are working.
Connecting through Technology: The CHC Farm Machinery App
To further aid farmers, the conference marked the launch of the “Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) Farm Machinery” mobile app. This multilingual application looks to bridge the gap between farmers and Custom Hiring Service Centres in their respective areas. The app allows farmers to contact service centres swiftly and with ease, thus aiding in efficient farm management.
| Year | Percent Reduction in Straw Burning Incidents |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 15% |
| 2016 | 41% |
About The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Holding considerable sway over the agricultural practices in India, the ICAR is an autonomous body that oversees agricultural education and research throughout the nation. Reporting to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, this council is under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president. ICAR boasts of having the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes globally.
