Biogas association calls for blending of organic manure with fertilizers

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has called for 10% mandatory blending of fermented organic manure with chemical fertilizers by 2030, saying it can save $2 billion in imports annually.

The IBA recently presented a white paper on ‘FOM (fermented organic manure) feeds soil; soil feeds sustainability’.

The white paper was released by New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi.

The white paper proposes blending as a critical intervention to restore India’s declining soil health.

It outlined a comprehensive policy framework; the recommendation calls for integrating fermented organic manure into existing flagship government schemes, including the nutrient-based subsidy framework, Soil Health Card scheme, and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

The inclusion of organic carbon as a nutrient parameter under the nutrient-based subsidy is expected to enable balanced fertilization, ensure fair subsidy mechanisms for fermented organic manure, and reduce excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers.

Highlighting urgency, the IBA noted that India’s soil organic carbon levels remain critically low at approximately 0.4%, impacting soil fertility, water retention, and crop productivity.

To institutionalise these efforts, the IBA has proposed the launch of an umbrella national programme. The programme aims to ensure 100% offtake and utilisation of fermented organic manure produced from biogas and compressed biogas, while creating a circular ecosystem linking renewable energy with agriculture.

The association emphasised that such a mandate will create stable market demand, strengthen fertilizer distribution networks through public sector undertakings, and enable region-specific nutrient solutions.

“Positioning fermented organic manure as a mainstream agricultural input is essential to achieving long-term soil regeneration and climate resilience. A structured blending mandate, supported by policy alignment and institutional collaboration, can transform India’s agricultural landscape while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizer imports. It will further save the government $2 billion once a 10% blending is achieved on a yearly basis,” A.R. Shukla, president, IBA, said.

IBA said that immediate and coordinated policy action is critical to mainstream fermented organic manure and unlock its full potential as a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture in India.