In Karnataka, dairy farming families with biogas plants remain untouched by LPG crisis

The ongoing disruption in LPG cylinder supply, triggered by the conflict in West Asia, has not affected a number of dairy farm families of Karnataka and neighbouring states, supplying milk for an organic dairy enterprise with its plant in the Channarayapatna taluk of the Hassan district.

The disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders affected hoteliers and households. While many hotels have been forced to shut down, domestic consumers are struggling with delays in refills. However, the dairy farm families attached to Akshayakalpa, an enterprise with its units in Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, are free from this problem. They have achieved energy self-reliance through biogas plants installed on their farms.

The firm has over 2,800 milk producers spread across the three states. Among them, more than 1,700 farmers have installed biogas units. That includes 1,400 in Karnataka, around 190 units in Ranga Reddy and Mehaboob Nagar districts of Telangana and 80 units in the Chengalpattu district in Tamil Nadu.

“Biogas units are an integral part of our farmers’ dairy operations. Our farmers stopped depending on LPG cylinders long ago,” said Shashi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of the firm. The firm plays a role in setting up the dairy farm units as per its design.

The farm units have biogas of varying capacity depending on the number of cattle they have. “On an average, our farmers have biogas plants that generate 50 cubic metres of gas a day. We can say that each farmer produces gas that is equivalent to two domestic LPG cylinders. That is more than sufficient for a family of four to six people,” stated Mr. Shashi Kumar. Each biogas plant requires initial investment up to ₹15,000. It converts methane in cow manure into a sustainable source of renewable energy, he added.

Each biogas plant requires initial investment up to ₹15,000. It converts methane in cow manure into a sustainable source of renewable energy.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Siddalingaswamy M.V of Madarabpalya in Tiptur taluk of Tumakuru district has been supplying milk to the firm for the last three years. “We generate biogas equivalent to four LPG cylinders per month, which is more than what we need. We have saved a substantial amount of money that we earlier spent on LPG and are free from the tension of refills,” said Siddalingaswamy.

He maintains 20 cows and supplies 200 litres of milk a day. Every day, he feeds 250 kg of cow dung into the biogas plant. The digested slurry is used as organic manure, improving soil health. His family, along with farm workers, cooks for nearly 10 people daily. “On average, each farmer saves from 20,000 to 25,000 annually by not purchasing LPG cylinders,” said Rajeev K., Head of Operation (Extension) of Akshayakalpa.

The company also has a dairy unit with over 40 cattle and a biogas unit at its plant at Kodihalli in Channaryapatna taluk. It runs a large canteen on biogas. Every day, the workers at the canteen prepare 600 meals for over 300 employees working in three shifts. Uday Kumar, facility manager at the plant, said, “If we were to cook food using LPG cylinders, we would require at least 50 cylinders a month. But, with the biogas plant on the plant premises, we are managing the canteen,” he said.