The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (ICAR-CSSRI) jointly organized a Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on Innovative Approaches to Crop Residue Management on 29 November 2024 at ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal, Haryana. The workshop facilitated a constructive dialogue on practical, sustainable approaches to crop residue management, especially in paddy straw.

The workshop convened a diverse group of stakeholders including farmers, government officials, scientists and experts, academia and representatives from the private sector. Experts from voluntary organizations, scientists, farmers, policymakers, agriculture departments, and machine manufacturers, engaged in enriching and open discussions, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach to address crop residue management issues.

Speaking at the workshop, Ms S Rukmani, Joint Secretary, (M&T, DM, O&M/PG, RTI), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India and Mr AN Meshram, Deputy Commissioner M&T emphasized we should continue this dialogue between various stakeholders and appreciated everyone’s efforts in reducing the burning incidences further this year. She highlighted that “The Government provided schemes for special support in ex-situ management value chain participants in the current year. Recommendations for next year may be suggested as an outcome of this workshop”.

Dr RK Yadav, Director, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana emphasized, “Proper in-situ management of crop residue can play a significant role in the soil-plant-environment system, and sustaining soil health and its productive capacity.”

During the workshop, the farmers from Punjab and Haryana discussed the potential of Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) technology and shared firsthand experiences and challenges in managing crop residue. They emphasized the benefits of using residues as mulch to enhance soil health. They also suggested developing herbicide-tolerant crop varieties and adopting natural farming practices as key strategies to address crop residue challenges. Some farmers proposed advanced multifunctional machinery capable of handling multiple tasks to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Grassroots organizations, such as the Kheti Virasat Mission, also contributed by providing insights into their efforts to promote sustainable farming practices and advocate for cleaner, more resilient agricultural methods. Experts from the scientific community presented innovative and viable alternatives to crop burning, focusing on scientifically proven solutions and technological innovations for sustainable residue management. Senior government officials discussed the challenges they face in implementing and scaling policies aimed at reducing crop burning and supporting farmers in transitioning to eco-friendly practices.

Dr OP Chaudhary, Regional Director of the Rice Research Station, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Kaul Campus, recognized farmers as "field scientists." He shared that three new basmati rice varieties would soon be released, along with several other improved varieties under screening, characterized by low biomass, reduced water requirements, early maturity, and herbicide tolerance. He also highlighted diversification as a key solution and stressed the importance of working with existing machinery to move toward sustainable practices.

Dr Rajbir Singh, Assistant Director General (AAF&CC), ICAR, commended farmers for their efforts in managing paddy residue on a large scale this year. He emphasized the need for the scientific use of machinery, localized residue management approaches (both in-situ and ex-situ), and fostering behavioural change to ensure effective solutions. He highlighted government support for balers, the importance of improving access to custom hiring centers, and better coordination in machinery use. Dr Singh also stressed the value of farmer dialogues to understand their perspectives and achieve impactful outcomes.

Mr Amandeep, a farmer from Rajaund, shared his success using the new shredder-seeder-spreader machine introduced under the FAO GEF-7 project. He reported excellent residue management and wheat germination, with low water use and no pest attacks.

Dr Buta Singh Dhillon of Punjab Agricultural University advised against early paddy sowing in June, suggesting alternatives to save groundwater under the Punjab Sub-Soil Water Act. He stressed reducing paddy area, highlighting its short-term economic benefits but long-term losses. DSR was recommended for water conservation and better crop residue management due to lower silica content. He emphasized integrated weed management in DSR, using stomp and weed-specific herbicides. DSR also enhances zinc content, improving nutritional quality. While herbicide-tolerant varieties offer a short-term solution, they are not viable long-term.

The key alternatives discussed included short-duration varieties of rice and wheat, early sowing of rice, and the use of machinery such as smart seeders, happy seeders, and surface seeders. Additionally, using paddy straw for mushroom cultivation, and biochar production to enhance soil fertility, a promising solution could be the integration of bio decomposers with the strategies mentioned above. FAO calls for an urgent need to adopt innovative approaches to crop residue management that prioritize sustainability. Developing and scaling up sustainable, economically viable, and farmer-friendly alternatives is critical to transforming the agricultural landscape, improving environmental outcomes such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring long-term food security.

FAO Representative in India, Takayuki Hagiwara, highlights, “There is no one-size-fits-all solution for sustainable crop residue management. It requires a collaborative effort among all stakeholders. Solutions must address environmental concerns, incentivize farmers, and be both practical and acceptable to them. Only by working together can we create effective, farmer-friendly approaches that ensure widespread adoption of sustainable practices.”

The workshop was organized as part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 7-cycle funded project titled ‘Promotion of Sustainable Food Systems in India through Transforming Rice-Wheat Systems in Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh’. The project demonstrates the collaborative efforts of government bodies and international organizations to improve agricultural practices in India. It seeks to accelerate India's transition towards a new model of sustainable agriculture, promote healthy landscapes and ecosystems, and deliver multiple global environmental benefits.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, serves as the operational focal point; the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW) is the executing ministry for this project. FAO serves as the GEF implementing agency, while the four state governments are operational partners in executing the project.

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