Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is on a mission to redefine agricultural waste, positioning it as a cornerstone of India’s sustainable development.
Addressing agri-tech leaders, he stated: ‘What we call waste is wealth waiting to be unlocked. Our 120 million farmers generate biomass that can fuel growth without fossil dependency.’
Gadkari outlined the opportunity: 500+ million tonnes potential, with current utilization under 20%. He spotlighted innovations – torrefied pellets rivaling coal, biochar enriching soils, bio-plastics from husks.
Central schemes accelerate this: GOBARdhan integrates waste from cattle and crops for village-level plants. ‘Rs 600 crore allocated; expect 700 new units by next year,’ he disclosed.
Case studies inspire: Haryana’s happy seeders let farmers sow without burning, selling straw to factories. Gujarat’s groundnut shells produce electricity for 1 lakh homes.
To scale, Gadkari pushed public-private ties: ‘IOCL, BPCL partnering with startups for end-to-end chains.’ Awareness drives target 10,000 FPOs with training.
Economically, it’s a jackpot: Rs 25,000 crore industry by 2025, 3 lakh green jobs. Environmentally, cleaner air, regenerative farming.
Gadkari wrapped up: ‘This transformation demands collective will. Let’s make agri-waste the engine of Viksit Bharat, powering progress from plow to power.’