A Midas Touch For Agri Waste

Human endeavours have scaled new heights in all spheres of 'civilisational' comforts and scientific advancement, including growing resilient and high-yielding crops. Agricultural activity has reached the zenith of modern food cultivation potential. Yet, one common thread of these endeavours is the sheer volume of waste generated. Agriculture and allied industries, too, are bogged down by this. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) statistics show that annually India generates about 500 million tonnes of agricultural and agro-industrial leftovers. According to a recent media report, between 16 and 17 million metric tonnes (MMT) of grains are lost each year due to inefficient food management systems. Unscientific grain harvesting and storage practices are mostly to blame for this problem. The same holds true for the massive wastage of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products every year due to antiquated storage, transport and distribution methods. However, numerous initiatives are now being taken to minimise and convert this agricultural waste into various types of products and services. As things are changing for the better, although at a slow pace, let's take this up with a few industry insiders who can shine some light on this pressing issue.

- Nitin Konde

According to projections made by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, this agri waste has the potential to generate more than 18,000 MW of electricity annually in addition to producing green fertiliser for agricultural use. When looking at just one crop, potatoes, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) found that the global annual waste is over 12 MMT, with 2 MMT coming from India. The Government of India launched its flagship "Swachh Bharat Mission" in 2014, and in response, the ICAR issued a clarion appeal for serious work on agricultural waste and its conversion into products that are valuable for humans, animals, and farm land.

Commenting on this move, Suhas Baxi, Co-founder & CEO, BiofuelCircle said, “In an agrarian country like India, every year, there is a minimum of 235 MMT of surplus agri-residue available in the farms. This is equivalent to 125 MMT of coal or 600 million barrels of crude oil, which is nearly 25 per cent of India’s oil imports. 100 per cent utilisation of this surplus crop residue can potentially lead to providing 17 per cent of a country's energy needs, creating additional sources of income for farmers and creation of jobs in rural and industrial sectors. The biomass opportunity in our country is big enough to potentially power a $40 billion economy. However, more than 70 per cent gets burnt or wasted due to a combination of reasons.”

To make the most of this chance, a comprehensive farm-to-fuel ecosystem should be set up. In light of the precarious nature of the link between rural and industrial areas, this would necessitate massive efforts to organise and empower all participants in the biomass supply chain.