Organic fertilizer initiative to add $2.6 billion revenue surge: IBA

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has estimated a revenue boost of $2.6 billion for the biogas industry following the government’s initiative to promote organic fertilizers. The recent policy change is expected to strengthen sustainable farming practices while contributing to India’s waste-to-wealth ecosystem. According to information, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has revised the 1985 Fertilizer (Control) Order to include Organic Carbon Enhancers derived from Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants as a recognized fertilizer category. According to the IBA, this move will not only improve soil health but also provide economic benefits to the biogas industry by increasing the demand for organic fertilizers.
A R Shukla, President of the Indian Biogas Association welcomed the amendment, stating that organic fertilizers produced through the fermentation process in biogas plants will help restore soil fertility, increase crop yields, and mitigate environmental damage. He also highlighted that India’s Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) content has declined from 1% to 0.3% over the past 70 years, making the introduction of organic carbon enhancers crucial for reversing soil degradation.
According to information, India currently produces around 1 million metric tonnes of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), a byproduct of CBG plants. With expanded biogas projects, this figure could rise to 7 million metric tonnes, potentially meeting the fertilizer needs of entire regions like Rajasthan. The demand for organic fertilizers is expected to rise significantly, leading to the establishment of additional CBG plants and driving further growth in the biogas sector.
The IBA has been promoting a policy similar to Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) for fermented organic manure to maximize revenue potential,stated official note.According to its estimates, fully realizing the SATAT potential could generate a minimum of $2.6 billion in additional revenue for industry players from solid FOM. The revenue could increase by two to three times if liquid FOM earnings are also taken into account.

(Business Correspondent)