Circular Economy in Agriculture: Turning Farm Waste to Value
Why in the news
India is pushing farm-waste recycling into power, organic inputs and income, linking green goals with rural growth.
Concept
Waste is a resource, not rubbish. 6Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbish, Recover, Repair.
- Waste types: crop stubble (often burned), animal manure and carcasses, post-harvest losses, retail and household food waste.
- Conversion: biomass energy, organic fertilisers, biogas, biochar (soil fertility plus carbon storage).
Government initiatives
| Initiative | Role |
|---|---|
| GOBARdhan | Compressed biogas and organic manure; carbon credits, tax incentives, digital portal |
| Crop Residue Management | In-situ and ex-situ use; less stubble burning |
| Agriculture Infrastructure Fund | ₹66,000+ crore sanctioned for warehouses, cold storage, processing |
| AHIDF | ₹15,000 crore for dairy, meat processing, waste-to-wealth |
| Jal Shakti water reuse | Treated wastewater for farming and landscaping |
SDG links
SDG 2 (food security), SDG 12 (responsible consumption), SDG 13 (climate action). Global food waste in 2022: 1.05 billion tonnes.