Role of Custom Hiring Centers in Implementation of In-situ Crop Residue Management Scheme in Ambala District (Haryana)

The farmers generally burn the rice residue to vacate their fields for the timely sowing of wheat, because residues interfere with tillage and seeding operations. In Haryana, approximated 27.83 million tons of agricultural residues are produced and out of which 11.22 million ton is surplus every year. The residue of crop can play an important role in the cycling of nutrients as rice straw at harvest contains significant amount of nutrients. Government of India initiated Central Sector Scheme on “Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue” in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi during the year 2018 to curb the residue burning. In this scheme, farmers were appraised to set up Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) at subsidized rates. The subsidy on the selected crop residue management related machinery/ implements were directly deposited to the accounts of farmers. Information about the scheme was spread via latest ICT tools among the farmers of Ambala district. Hands on training programmes were imparted to CHC owners by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) for the efficient operation of the machinery/implements during sowing of next crop by mulching or incorporation of the residue.