Punjab News:MANN GOVT PUMPS ₹1,325 CRORE INTO CRM MACHINERY OVER 4 YEARS, PUTS 94,456 MACHINES IN FIELDS

Punjab News:MANN GOVT PUMPS ₹1,325 CRORE INTO CRM MACHINERY OVER 4 YEARS, PUTS 94,456 MACHINES IN FIELDS

*• Over 22K CRM machines procured for 2026-27 with ₹201 crore subsidy, 73% jump over last year, says Khudian*

In a decisive push to curb stubble burning, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has pumped a whopping Rs 1325.35 crore into farm machinery in just four years, putting 94,456 Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines into the fields and driving farm fires down by a massive 90%, from 49,922 cases in 2022 to just 5,114 in 2025.

Revealing the over four-year data, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the government is not slowing down, with farmers already procuring 22,763 CRM machines for the 2026-27 cycle with nearly Rs 201 crore in subsidy, ensuring Punjab is battle-ready well in time. This marks a massive 73% increase compared to the 13,147 machines supplied during the entire previous year.

“Under the visionary leadership of CM Mann, we have ensured that no farmer is held back by financial constraints from adopting eco-friendly farm practices,” S. Khudian said, while adding that an investment of over Rs 1325 crore and more than 94000 CRM machines since 2022-23 shows our unwavering commitment to restore Punjab’s soil fertility and clean air.

Providing a year-wise breakdown of the drive, the Agriculture Minister said that a subsidy of Rs 279.96 crore was disbursed in 2022-23 for 27,250 machines, Rs 168.88 crore in 2023-24 for 13,179 machines, Rs 259.81 crore in 2024-25 for 18,117 machines and Rs 415.7 crore in 2025-26 for 13,147 machines.

Reiterating the Punjab government’s zero-tolerance policy towards stubble burning, the Agriculture Minister appealed farmers to make optimum use of the subsidised machinery to protect the environment and public health. He said the early procurement of over 22,000 machines for the 2026-27 cycle ensures Punjab is fully prepared well in time, while enabling farmers to manage paddy straw scientifically without burning.

Emphasising the government’s pro-farmer approach, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said 75% of Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) funds have been earmarked for Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) to empower small and marginal farmers, while Rs 6 crore has been allocated for bio-decomposer application under a massive IEC campaign.

1. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said this targeted allocation ensures economically weaker farmers can easily access machinery for in-situ and ex-situ management. The impact is clear as 3,247 machines have been provided to 846 PACS this year, a staggering surge over 1,262 machines to 300 PACS last year.