The Punjab government has called for an intensified multi-level information and awareness campaign supported by a digital and multimedia strategy to further check paddy straw burning in the state and protect the environment. Concerned officers have been directed to take the campaign deep into villages and blocks with the active participation of NGOs, social workers, Panchayats and farmers.

 

A large-scale social media outreach has also been planned as well. Chairing a meeting yesterday on the Paddy Straw Management Strategy, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that with sustained government-led efforts, there is already an 86% decline in paddy-straw burning incidents from 2023 to 2025.

 

The incidents have come down from 36,663 in 2023 to 10,909 in 2024 and further to 5,114 in 2025. He said around 30 lakh hectares of paddy have been sown in Punjab this year, which is expected to generate 18.81 million tonnes of paddy straw. He said, ‘Let’s ensure to further reduce the burning this year.’

 

Mr. Mann said that every stakeholder must work together to motivate farmers to adopt sustainable alternatives to stubble burning. Demonstration of machinery, Nukkad Nataks, meetings with Sarpanches, pledge-taking activities and other awareness programmes must be organised extensively so that the message reaches farmers at the grassroots level.

 

He also suggested the felicitation of progressive farmers, best-performing Panchayats, and other stakeholders for their contribution in saving the environment by not burning paddy straws.