What is Brown Revolution 2.0 ?

13 Aug 2025

What is Brown Revolution 2.0 ?

Brown Revolution 2.0 proposes a nationwide cooperative model, inspired by Amul, to convert Agro waste into compost, vermicompost, and biochar, boosting soil health, farm productivity, and rural livelihoods.

What is Brown Revolution 2.0 ?

  • Definition: A proposed nationwide initiative to restore soil health by converting agricultural waste into compost, vermicompost, and biochar.
  • Approach: Decentralised, cooperative recycling of agro-waste into organic soil amendments.

Brown Revolution 1.0

  • Initiator: Hiralal Chaudhary.
  • Purpose: Promote leather and coffee production.
  • Region: Tribal regions of Visakhapatnam.

Agro Waste 

  • It is defined as all undesirable materials generated by agricultural activities, which can originate from plants or animals. 
  • These wastes primarily consist of plant aggregates or fibers, including cellulose and lignocellulose, and are noted for their lower density compared to inorganic fibers.

  • Goals: Revive degraded soils, promote sustainable agriculture, and improve rural livelihoods.
  • Unlike Brown Revolution 1.0, the second version focuses on soil organic carbon (SOC) restoration and climate resilience.
  • Significance: Crucial in the context of climate change, declining soil fertility, and sustainable farming needs.
    • The initiative aligns with goals of sustainable agriculture, rural development, and environmental protection.

Challenges in Managing Agro Waste

Every tonne of paddy straw burned is estimated to release 

  • Three kilograms of particulate matter
  • 60 kilograms of carbon monoxide, and 
  • 1,460 kilograms of carbon dioxide, 
  • Along with less yet significant quantities of ash and sulphur dioxide

  • Agro-Waste Crisis: India produces 350–500 million tonnes of agro-waste annually, much of it burned or mismanaged, leading to pollution, GHG emissions, and soil carbon loss.
    • For Example: Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has been a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi.
  • Declining Soil Fertility: Decades of high-input monocropping and chemical-intensive farming have depleted India’s soils. 
    • Many regions now fall below sustainability thresholds for organic matter, risking long-term food security and rural prosperity.
  • Environmental Hazards: Paddy straw burning releases high levels of PM2.5, CO, and CO₂, worsening air quality and water eutrophication.
    • Unmanaged plantation waste accumulates over a long period of time posing both environmental as well as  health hazards.

Important Colour Revolutions in the Indian agriculture and allied sectors

  • Green Revolution: Introduction of high-yield crop varieties, irrigation, and fertilisers to boost food grain production.
  • White Revolution: Nationwide dairy development movement to increase milk production (Operation Flood).
  • Blue Revolution: Expansion and modernisation of fisheries and aquaculture for higher fish production.
  • Golden Revolution: Growth in horticulture, fruits, vegetables, and honey production.
  • Pink Revolution: Development of meat, poultry, and shrimp production sectors.
  • Silver Revolution: Rapid increase in egg and poultry production.
  • Grey Revolution: Increased use of chemical fertilisers to boost crop yields.
  • Yellow Revolution: Growth in oilseed production.
  • Black Revolution: Increase in petroleum and mineral oil production.

  • Sustainability risk – Falling SOC threatens future yields, increases fertilizer dependence, and undermines climate commitments.
  • Economic: Large-scale loss of potential value addition from agro-waste persists, coupled with high dependence on chemical fertilisers.
  • Climate Change Pressures: Droughts and erratic rainfall require resilient soil systems.
  • Policy gaps: Current focus is skewed towards biofuels and industrial uses, neglecting soil health, with weak enforcement of burning bans and inadequate infrastructure for recycling waste.

Proposed Model – Brown Revolution 2.0 (Inspired from Amul Cooperative Model)

  • Decentralised, Federated Cooperatives: Agro-waste recycling cooperatives would allow local participation, shared profit, and economies of scale.
  • Village-level clusters would collect, process (compost, vermicompost, biochar), and market organic amendments, with much product returned to local soils.
  • Inclusion and Scale: The model ensures rapid scalability, from small clusters to regional federations, pooling resources for logistics, finance, and quality control. 
  • Technical Support : Capacity building is anchored in partnerships with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),State Agricultural Universities (SAU), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), and extension services.
  • Federated Structure: Pooled logistics, shared finance, quality control, and traceability will be coordinated through a multi-tier cooperative network.
  • Technology (AI & IoT) integration: Enables real-time soil health tracking, optimised biomass flows, and efficient compost/biochar production.
  • Carbon Credit Systems: Data-driven verification links soil carbon sequestration to national and global carbon markets for financial rewards.

Carbon Credit Systems

  • A carbon credit system is a market-based mechanism designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by assigning a monetary value to emission reductions.
  • Carbon credits, also known as carbon offsets, represent the reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions, quantified in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e).

Amul Cooperative Model

  • The Amul model is a three-tier cooperative structure designed to empower farmers, eliminate middlemen, and ensure fair prices.
  • Key Features: Farmer ownership, democratic management, transparent payment system, and profits shared among members.

3 Tier Structure

  • Village Dairy Cooperative Society (VDCS): Every milk producer in a village is a member. The society collects milk twice daily, tests quality, and pays farmers directly.
  • District Milk Union: Representatives elected from multiple village societies manage milk processing, packaging, and value addition (butter, cheese, ice cream).
  • State Milk Federation: Handles marketing, branding, and distribution under the Amul brand at state, national, and global levels.

Multi-Dimensional Benefits 

  • Agricultural: Restores SOC, improves nutrient cycling, enhances water retention, and boosts yield resilience.
  • Economic: Creates rural jobs, strengthens cooperative incomes, and reduces fertilizer expenditure.
  • Environmental: Lowers GHG emissions, reduces air and water pollution, and improves biodiversity.
  • Technological: Establishes India as a leader in data-driven sustainable agriculture.
  • Social: Promotes inclusion of marginal farmers, women, and youth in value chains.

Global Initiatives

  • Japan – Zero-Burn Policy:
    • Japan enforces a strict Zero-Burn Policy for agricultural residues, completely prohibiting the open burning of crop waste. 
    • Farmers are required to manage residues through methods such as composting, mulching, or bioenergy conversion.
  • China – Straw-to-Fertiliser Program
    • Under this initiative, farmers are encouraged and incentivised to collect and process straw through composting, microbial decomposition, or mixing with animal manure. 
    • The program is supported by subsidies, training, and the deployment of specialised machinery for straw collection and incorporation into fields.
  • EU – Common Agricultural Policy (CAP):
    • It offers financial incentives to promote sustainable residue management and soil conservation. 
    • Farmers receive direct payments and eco-scheme rewards for adopting practices like mulching, composting, cover cropping, and minimal tillage instead of open burning. 

Government Initiatives

  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming through financial assistance for adopting organic practices.
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Prioritises soil health management and supports measures such as agroforestry, soil conservation, and water-efficient farming.
  • Soil Health Card Scheme: Offers farmers detailed soil assessments and nutrient management advice to enable informed agricultural decisions.

Policy Measures / Recommendations for Implementation

  • Institutional:  Mandate cooperative-based agro-waste recycling in every agricultural district. Integrate with Soil Health Card scheme for data-driven management.
  • Economic: MSP-like pricing for processed biomass, subsidies for decentralised composting and biochar units, create a national carbon credit registry.
  • Legal – Enforce strict ban on open burning while ensuring affordable alternatives.
  • Capacity building: Train women, youth, and Self-Help Groups; integrate with rural entrepreneurship programmes.
  • Research: Promote region-specific recycling technologies and demonstration farms to encourage adoption.
  • Beyond Industrial Feedstock : Current agro-waste policies prioritise biofuels over soil restoration; Brown Revolution 2.0 emphasises returning organic matter to the land.
  • Technology Integration
    • Processing innovations: Use rapid in-vessel composting, optimised vermicomposting, and modular biochar units for high-quality outputs.
    • Monitoring systems: Employ AI and IoT for real-time soil health tracking, production optimisation, and biomass flow logistics.
    • Transparency: Use digital platforms for quality assurance and carbon credit verification.

Conclusion

Brown Revolution 2.0 is not a secondary policy option but a mature, foundational strategy for India’s future food, climate, and rural prosperity. By returning billions of tonnes of organic matter to the soil through decentralised, cooperative action powered by technology and scientific support, India can restore the backbone of sustainable agriculture, empower its farmers, meet global climate goals, and secure nutrition for generations to come.

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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