INDIAN Biogas Association (IBA) has suggested that the government should rope in state-owned fertiliser marketing companies to ensure offtake of fermented organic manure to boost the sector. Talking to PTI in an interaction, IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia said, “Present production of FOM (fermented organic manure) in the country roughly standsat 1 million metric tonnes per annum(MMTA), with an increased potential of upto7 MMTA with presentand upcoming 570 plants, which can serve almost a state like Rajasthan for its fertiliser demand”.

 

He informed that as per our latest data, there are around 97 functional CBG (compressed biogas) plants with an average production of 7.5 TPD (tonne per day) CBG and 30 TPD FOM per plant. There are estimated production of the FOM of around1 million tonnes per annum, with a higher potential of upto7 million tonnes per annum. Presently, he said, there are 570 CBG plants,with 165 plant sunder construction,which are expected to be completed by this financial year and 405 plants yet to start construction. “To support biogas producers and encourage organicfarming, the government should consider roping inFertilizer MarketingCompanies (PSUs) for the offtake and distribution of Fermented OrganicManure (aproduct of biogas plant),” he said. The Department of Fertilizers must ensure thatthese companies provide adequate support for the co-marketing of FOM alongside chemical fertilisers.