Uttar Pradesh unveils biogas technology program for small and marginal farmers

LUCKNOW, 24 October 2024: The Department of Environment, Uttar Pradesh, has initiated a program to promote modern biogas technology among small and marginal farmers.

As part of the National Bioenergy Program, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, has appointed the Directorate of Environment, Uttar Pradesh, as the Program Implementing Agency (PIA). The state has been allocated a target to establish 2,250 small biogas plants in the financial year 2024-25.

The program aims to:

1. Set up biogas plants to provide clean cooking fuel, lighting, and thermal and small power needs, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improved sanitation, women’s empowerment, and rural employment creation.

2. Provide organic bio-manure: The digested slurry from biogas plants, a rich source of organic manure, will help farmers reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Today, the Directorate of Environment officially launched the program by handing over a "Letter of Authorization" to Pune-based biogas company Sistema.bio. The event was presided over by Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, Hon'ble State Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and attended by senior officials including Shri Manoj Singh Ji (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary, DoEF&CC, GoUP, Shri Ashish Tiwari Ji (IFS), Secretary, DoEF&CC, GoUP and Shri S.R. Meena Ji, Scientist E from Bio Gas Division of MNRE, GoI. During the event, Dr. Saxena emphasized the importance of clean cooking practices for rural communities and pledged the department’s full support for the initiative.

These biogas plants will help farmers convert organic waste into clean energy, reducing their reliance on traditional cooking fuels like wood and coal. The program not only provides clean energy access but also promotes efficient waste management, with the added benefit of biofertilizer as a by-product. This organic fertilizer will help farmers reduce costs and improve soil health, supporting sustainable agriculture.

This initiative marks a significant step by the state government toward expanding clean energy access for smallholder dairy farmers. It seeks to improve rural livelihoods by promoting health, women’s empowerment, sustainable waste management, and environmental protection through reduced CO2 and methane emissions from traditional cooking methods.

The project is expected to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and develop local infrastructure while contributing to climate change mitigation. A key highlight of the program is its cost-sharing model: a portion of the biogas plant's cost will be subsidized by the central government, while the majority will be covered by Sistema.bio through carbon financing generated from clean cooking solutions. Beneficiary farmers will only be required to contribute a small fraction of the overall cost.

Image credit: sistema.bio