Red entries on portal debar farmers from selling produce for 2 seasons
In a major step to combat environmental hazards of stubble burning, the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has taken action against 2,301 farmers across the state by marking red entries on their ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ (MFMB) portal for burning crop residue during the Rabi season 2024–25. The crackdown is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to enforce compliance and promote eco-friendly farming practices.
What is the red entry on ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ portal and what are its consequences?
A red entry on the MFMB portal is a penalty imposed on the farmers who burn stubble by violating crop residue management regulations. It serves as a digital record of misconduct and carries serious repercussions. Once a farmer receives a red entry, they are barred from selling their produce at government-regulated grain markets for two crop seasons. They also become ineligible for any financial or technical assistance from the department. The measure is intended to discourage crop residue burning and promote environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
What measures has the Jhajjar administration taken to check crop residue burning?
The Jhajjar administration has ramped up monitoring efforts through teams operating at the district, subdivisional, block and village levels, along with mobile squads. Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya is leading a district-level flying squad to oversee ground-level enforcement and ensure strict compliance with the ban. The district administration has also registered 11 FIRs against violators involved in stubble burning sofar.
Which district has recorded the highest number of red entries?
So far, Jhajjar district has recorded the highest number of red entries during the rabi crop season 2024-25, with 1,004 cases, followed by Jind (259) and Sirsa (158). Other districts, such as Fatehabad (150), Kaithal (141), Karnal (123), Kurukshetra (96), Yamunanagar (79), and Rohtak (64) have also reported a significant number of cases.
How is the Jhajjar administration raising awareness among farmers about alternatives to stubble burning?
To promote sustainable alternatives, the Jhajjar administration is conducting awareness and outreach programmes involving the farmers, village headmen and panchayat representatives. These initiatives aim at educating the farming community about scientific and eco-friendly methods of managing crop residue.
Why do the farmers burn crop residue?
Crop residue is burnt primarily to quickly clear fields for the next planting season. Those farmers with limited financial resources often cannot afford the labour or machinery needed to manage the residue properly. Burning becomes the fastest and cheapest method, especially when the time window between crop cycles is short. However, the practice contributes to air pollution and damages soil health, despite the availability of environmentally friendly alternatives. Some farmers believe that burning can help control certain diseases and pests that might be present in the crop residue.
Haryana Tribune