The super seeder has emerged as the most sought-after machine among Punjab farmers availing subsidies under the Centre-supported crop residue management (CRM) scheme, as the state intensifies efforts to curb paddy stubble burning during the ongoing kharif harvest season.
Of the 18,190 subsidised farm machines provided to farmers so far this season, 12,384 — or nearly two-thirds — are super seeders, making the machine the most popular option under the residue-management programme, officials familiar with the matter said. Since the launch of the programme, around 1.65 lakh subsidised machines have been supplied to farmers in Punjab. Officials said around 50% of these machines have now been declared redundant, having completed their estimated five- to six-year lifespan.
The Punjab government has reported a significant decline in farm fires in recent years. The number of recorded incidents fell from 36,636 in 2023 to 10,090 in 2024 and further to 5,114 in 2025. At the beginning of the paddy harvesting season, straw is being sold for around ₹ 350 per quintal, while prices can rise to approximately ₹ 600 per quintal during the off-season.
We are focusing on bringing farm fires to a negligible level,” said agriculture director Gurjit Singh Brar. Officials said paddy straw is increasingly being viewed as a potential source of additional income for farmers rather than merely agricultural waste. “Now we are focusing on generating wealth for farmers from the waste,” said Brar, adding that farmers could potentially increase their income by 10-15% through the sale of paddy straw. ₹ 600-crore CRM programme
The machine comes in different variants and costs between ₹ 2.45 lakh and ₹ 3.25 lakh. Because of its multiple functions, the super seeder is considered particularly useful. It can chop paddy straw, incorporate the residue into the soil, prepare the field for the next crop, sow wheat and other rabi crops and apply fertiliser.
Agriculture department officials said the machine helps farmers save time during the short window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing. “Besides its multiple uses, the machine best serves the purpose of stubble management and eases the cultivation of the next crop after paddy harvest,” said an official of the Punjab agriculture department.
