Answer

Introduction

India produces over 500 million tonnes of agricultural residues annually, with around 140 million tonnes remaining surplus, contributing to air pollution, stubble burning (up to 40% of winter pollution in Indo-Gangetic Plain), and greenhouse gas emissions. Government initiatives like the SAMARTH Mission and the National Bio-Energy Mission aim to turn this challenge into an opportunity by promoting biomass utilisation for clean energy, rural income, and employment.

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Significance of Utilising Agricultural Crop Waste/Biomass

• Reduction in Air Pollution and Climate Impact: Utilising crop residues reduces stubble burning, lowering PM2.5 emissions and greenhouse gases.
  Eg: SAMARTH Mission mandates 5% biomass co-firing in thermal plants, reducing CO₂ emissions by 15–20% per unit of electricity.
• Supplemental Rural Income: Farmers earn additional revenue by selling residues instead of burning them.
  Eg: Farmers earn ₹3,000–₹6,000 per acre; if one-third of surplus residue is monetised, it can generate ₹6,000–24,000 crore annually.
• Employment Generation in Rural Areas: Pellet manufacturing and logistics create new jobs and promote rural entrepreneurship.
  Eg: National Bio-Energy Mission projects over 50,000 direct rural jobs from full-scale biomass deployment.
• Energy Transition and Reduced Coal Dependence: Biomass co-firing serves as a bridge towards renewable energy, reducing coal dependency.
  Eg: Sweden and UK (Drax plant generates 80% electricity from biomass); Indonesia targets 10% biomass blend in 52 coal plants.
• Waste-to-Wealth Approach and Circular Economy: Converts waste into valuable energy products, aligning with circular economy principles.
• Improved Soil Health and Resource Efficiency: Prevents soil degradation caused by residue burning and promotes sustainable farming.
  

Challenges in Utilising Agricultural Crop Waste/Biomass

• Inadequate Supply Chain and Logistics: High transportation costs and lack of aggregation centres hamper biomass collection.
• Low Farmer Awareness and Reluctance: Farmers often lack awareness of biomass markets or face delays in payment.
  Eg: Punjab and Haryana farmers continue stubble burning due to quicker field clearing needs.
• Cost and Quality Concerns of Pellets: Non-standardised pellet quality and high prices discourage large-scale adoption.
  Eg: Variations in calorific value and moisture content affect co-firing efficiency.
• Weak Policy Enforcement and Compliance Gaps: Mandates remain advisory in many states, with no strict penalties for non-compliance.
  Eg: Private generators lag behind in adopting co-firing despite SAMARTH targets.
• Limited Access to Credit and Technology for Pellet Units: Small entrepreneurs struggle with financing and machinery access for pelletisation.
  Eg: Credit uptake under existing schemes remains low due to collateral requirements.

Strategies for Better Utilisation of Crop Biomass Residues

• Strengthen Policy Mandates and Monitoring: Make co-firing targets legally binding with real-time tracking mechanisms.
• Develop a Robust Supply Chain Infrastructure: Set up rural biomass collection hubs and incentivise aggregation networks.
• Provide Financial and Technical Support for Pelletisation Units: Ensure easy credit access and standardised quality benchmarks.
  Eg: National Bio-Energy Mission’s proposal for soft loans to pellet manufacturers.
• Promote Farmer Awareness and Incentives: Offer assured procurement prices and quick payment systems to encourage participation.
• Integrate Biomass in Carbon Credit and Renewable Schemes: Link biomass co-firing with carbon markets and Renewable Energy Certificates (REC).
  Eg: Potential to earn additional revenue streams for compliant thermal plants.
• Leverage International Best Practices and Technology Transfer: Adopt models from EU, Japan, and Indonesia for co-firing infrastructure and long-term purchase agreements.
  Eg: UK’s Drax station transition supported by 15-year supply contracts and subsidies.
• Promote Research & Development in Residue Utilisation: Encourage innovation in bio-CNG, second-generation ethanol, and biochar from residues.

Conclusion

India’s surplus biomass, if harnessed through stronger SAMARTH targets, better logistics, farmer incentives, and alignment with net-zero goals, can turn residue waste into a driver of clean energy, rural income, and improved air quality.

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