In a significant achievement for the state’s environmental and agricultural initiatives, the Ambala Agriculture Department has been conferred with the prestigious SKOCH Award for its exemplary work in Crop Residue Management (CRM). The award recognizes the department’s innovative and effective strategies in reducing stubble burning and promoting sustainable farming practices among the local farming community.
The Achievement The SKOCH Award is considered one of the highest independent honors in India, recognizing excellence in governance and social impact.
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Reduction in Farm Fires: Ambala has seen a consistent and drastic reduction in active fire locations (AFLs) over the last two harvest seasons. This was a key factor in the department’s selection for the award.
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Innovative Strategies: The department was lauded for its “zero-tolerance” approach toward stubble burning, combined with proactive support for farmers to adopt ex-situ (removing residue) and in-situ (mixing residue in soil) management techniques.
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Community Engagement: The award also highlights the department’s success in creating a “mass movement” through village-level awareness camps, street plays, and the formation of Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs).
Key Initiatives That Led to the Win
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Machinery Distribution: Efficient distribution of subsidized machinery such as Super Seeders, Happy Seeders, and Balers through a transparent digital portal.
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Panchayat Involvement: Incentivizing Gram Panchayats that achieved a “Zero Burning” status in their respective jurisdictions.
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Industrial Linkage: Successfully linking farmers with nearby biomass-based power plants and industries for the sale of stubble bales, providing an additional source of income.
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Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of fields using satellite data and immediate ground-level intervention by field officers.
Official Reaction The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala and the Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) dedicated the award to the hard-working farmers of the district. “This award belongs to the farmers of Ambala who chose the environment over traditional practices. Our role was merely to provide the tools and guidance,” the DDA stated.
The success of the Ambala model is now being studied for potential replication in other high-burning districts of Haryana and neighboring states to combat the seasonal air pollution crisis in North India.
