Turning Agricultural Waste into Energy: A Village-Level Initiative

In a remote village in Almora district, agricultural waste was once discarded or burned. Our biogas initiative transformed this waste into clean energy, powering homes and reducing emissions. This decentralized model created energy security, improved soil quality through organic slurry, and empowered local farmers with an additional revenue stream.

Background

Durgapur, a farming village in the Almora district, generates over 500 kg of agricultural waste daily—mostly crop residues like wheat husks, corn stalks, and fruit peels. Traditionally, this waste was either burned or left to decompose, contributing to air pollution and methane emissions.

Problem Statement

Burning of crop residues was leading to deteriorating air quality and soil depletion. Villagers also faced cooking fuel shortages, relying on costly LPG or firewood. There was no system in place to utilize this waste sustainably.

Solution Provided

Our biotech team collaborated with local panchayat leaders to install a 10-cubic-meter community biogas plant at the village center. Key features:

• Feedstock: 300–500 kg of crop waste mixed with cow dung

• Biogas Output: 3.5 cubic meters per day (equivalent to 2 LPG cylinders/month)

• By-Product: 25 kg/day of organic slurry used in farms

• Training sessions were conducted to teach villagers plant operation and slurry application. A self-help group was formed to manage day-to-day activities.

Results & Impact

The initiative created a closed-loop model. Biogas met 60% of cooking needs while organic slurry reduced chemical fertilizer usage by 40%, enhancing crop yields.

Conclusion

This model proved highly replicable and was adopted in two neighboring villages within three months. It highlights the power of circular economy principles applied at the grassroots level.