Forget fields of fire – Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wants India’s farmers to harvest wealth from waste, converting crop leftovers into biofuels and beyond.
At a green energy forum, Gadkari slammed the status quo: ‘Stubble burning isn’t tradition; it’s tragedy. We produce 600 million tonnes of biomass waste, enough to meet 20% of energy needs if processed right.’
Breaking it down, he explained pathways: Anaerobic digestion for biogas, pyrolysis for pellets, fermentation for ethanol. ‘Paddy straw alone can yield 20 million tonnes of bioethanol yearly,’ Gadkari calculated.
Policy firepower backs this. SATAT initiative mandates oil companies buy CBG, guaranteeing markets. Gadkari revealed 300 plants operational, with 1,000 in pipeline, each creating 50-100 jobs.
Real-world wins: Rajasthan’s camel dung-mixed waste powers off-grid hamlets. Tamil Nadu’s coconut waste feeds power grids. ‘Farmers earn Rs 2,000-3,000 per acre from residue sales,’ he noted.
Hurdles like moisture content and collection are tackled via custom harvesters and balers, subsidized at 50-80%. Gadkari called for cluster approaches: ‘One district, one waste-to-wealth hub.’
The endgame? Cut 50 million tonnes CO2 emissions annually, save $5 billion in fuel imports. Gadkari concluded optimistically: ‘Agri-waste will propel Atmanirbhar Bharat, turning refuse into national resilience.’