The Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) today underscored the need for promoting mechanization-based solutions for tackling the problem of crop-residue burning at a virtual Knowledge Sharing Event titled ‘Agricultural waste burning: technology and incentive solutions’ organized by the Asian Development Bank, Clean Air Asia and other partners. The Knowledge Sharing Event engaged different stakeholders to consider solutions to agricultural waste burning while presenting practical solutions and case studies that showcased alternatives to burning.

Mr. Anshuman Varma, Deputy Head of CSAM, made a presentation on ‘Sustainable Mechanization Solutions to Agricultural Waste Burning’ which pointed out some of the key reasons why farmers burn crop residue in the region and how CSAM’s Regional Initiative on Integrated Management of Straw Residue, which is promoting a ‘Circular Model of Straw Utilization’, aims to address the problem. The presentation highlighted the achievements and learnings from the pilots implemented by CSAM and its partners in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Nepal and Viet Nam since 2019 and shared details of specific in-situ and ex-situ solutions that have been promoted.

During the Q&A, several participants expressed keen interest in CSAM’s Regional Initiative and opportunities for collaboration.