Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana said the state government was promoting the use of straw as manure by encouraging farmers to incorporate it in their fields.

Stating that the practice not only improves soil fertility but also provides economic benefits to farmers, the agriculture minister said incorporating crop residues into the soil increases carbon and other nutrients, leading to higher yields in subsequent crops.

“Scientific research has shown that mixing straw into the soil strengthens nutrient cycling and increases soil carbon levels, which in turn improves future crop yields,” said Rana, adding that many progressive farmers are now using crop residues as fertilizer by incorporating them in the soil.

“This approach not only increases crop yield by 3 to 5 quintals per acre annually but also reduces costs by lowering urea consumption,” he added.

Citing the example of farmer Rajesh Saini of Bakana village in Yamunanagar district, the agriculture minister said that instead of burning stubble, Rajesh had been mixing it in his fields for the past three years. As a result, his yield has increased by about six quintals per acre, leading to an annual increase in income ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per acre, the minister said.

According to the agriculture minister, Haryana grows rice on about 28 lakh acres. He said the government’s awareness campaign has significantly reduced stubble burning cases this season. He said the state government has also provided subsidized machinery for in situ and ex-situ stubble management and farmers who refrain from stubble burning are given a financial incentive of ₹1,000 per acre.

Rana said the Haryana government’s efforts have been lauded by the Supreme Court. “Attributing rising pollution in Delhi solely to stubble burning is wrong,” Rana said, advising the Delhi government to implement concrete measures similar to those in Haryana.