Biogas Association Advocates for Enhanced Crop Yields Through Blending Organic Manure with Fertilizers.

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has proposed the implementation of a 10% mandatory blending of fermented organic manure with chemical fertilizers by 2030, aiming to save $2 billion in annual imports. This recommendation was outlined in a white paper titled ‘FOM (fermented organic manure) feeds soil; soil feeds sustainability,’ presented recently to New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi. The IBA identifies this blending as essential to addressing India’s worsening soil health, which currently reflects critically low organic carbon levels of about 0.4%, adversely affecting soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

The white paper advocates for the integration of fermented organic manure into existing governmental frameworks, including the nutrient-based subsidy system, the Soil Health Card initiative, and the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. By proposing organic carbon as a nutrient parameter within the subsidy framework, the IBA seeks to enhance balanced fertilization practices and promote equitable subsidy mechanisms for organic inputs. This initiative is positioned as a vital step to mitigate India’s over-reliance on chemical fertilizers and to foster a more sustainable agricultural practice.

To realize these goals, the IBA has called for a comprehensive national programme that ensures full utilization of fermented organic manure sourced from biogas and compressed biogas. This programme aims to create a circular ecosystem that connects renewable energy with agricultural practices, establishing stable market demand and bolstering fertilizer distribution networks. A.R. Shukla, president of IBA, emphasized that integrating fermented organic manure into mainstream agriculture is critical for long-term soil regeneration and achieving climate resilience. He stressed the urgency for immediate and coordinated policy actions to unlock the potential of regenerative agriculture in India.