Punjab to Deploy Drones for Farm Surveillance, Targets Zero Stubble Burning by 2030

Chandigarh: The Punjab government is preparing to deploy drones for surveillance of agricultural fields during the stubble-burning season as part of its five-year strategy to achieve zero stubble burning in the state by 2030.

The drone-based monitoring system will focus particularly on the 3 pm to 9 pm period, allowing authorities to detect farm fires more closely and supplement existing satellite-based monitoring.

The move is part of a broader strategy that aims to tackle stubble burning through a combination of stricter monitoring, crop diversification, improved access to farm machinery and greater utilisation of paddy straw.

Focus on Paddy Straw Management

Punjab has around 31 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation, generating an estimated 18.81 million metric tonnes of paddy straw during the season.

Under the proposed management plan, around 10.15 million metric tonnes of paddy residue is expected to be managed through in-situ methods using agricultural machinery.

Another 7.08 million metric tonnes is planned to be utilised by biomass and biogas plants, while approximately 0.86 million metric tonnes could be used as cattle fodder.

The government is also looking to expand the use of paddy straw for biomass, biogas and compressed biogas (CBG) projects, turning agricultural residue into a potential economic resource rather than allowing it to be burned in fields.

Government Plans to Reduce Paddy Cultivation

Crop diversification is another major component of Punjab's long-term strategy.

The state has set a target of reducing the area under paddy cultivation by around seven lakh hectares over the coming years. Reducing the area under paddy is expected to lower the overall quantity of crop residue generated during the harvest season.

At the same time, the government plans to improve the availability and utilisation of crop-residue management machinery so farmers have alternatives to burning the residue.

Stubble-Burning Incidents Decline

Punjab has witnessed a significant decline in reported stubble-burning incidents in recent years.

The number of reported incidents fell from 76,929 in 2020 to 10,909 in 2024, and further to 5,114 in 2025.

Despite the decline, farm fires remain concentrated in several districts.

Sangrur, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Mansa, Tarn Taran and Faridkot accounted for nearly 67% of the reported incidents, with 3,454 cases recorded across these districts.

Increased Monitoring and Enforcement

The state government is also strengthening its field-level monitoring and enforcement mechanism.

More than 12,000 officials have been deployed in areas considered vulnerable to stubble burning. During the previous year, authorities registered 1,963 FIRs related to stubble-burning violations, while 2,176 farmers received red entries in their land records.

The government has also increased the use of environmental compensation and other enforcement measures against violations.

Drone surveillance is expected to provide authorities with another real-time monitoring tool, particularly during the evening hours when farm fires can be difficult to identify through satellite observations alone.

Punjab's 2030 Zero-Burning Target

The Punjab government's five-year roadmap aims to gradually move the state towards eliminating the practice of burning paddy residue in fields by 2030.

The strategy combines drone and satellite surveillance, crop diversification, farm machinery, in-situ residue management and industrial utilisation of paddy straw.

The effectiveness of the 2030 target will depend on how successfully these measures are implemented on the ground and how easily farmers can access practical alternatives to burning crop residue.

Punjab's stubble-burning issue has implications not only for agriculture but also for air quality across northern India, particularly during the winter months. The coming harvesting seasons will therefore be closely watched as the state begins implementing its expanded surveillance and residue-management strategy.