Source: PIB
Context:
India is promoting a circular economy in agriculture by converting agricultural waste into energy, organic inputs, and economic value — aligning environmental sustainability with rural development.
What is Circular Economy in Agriculture?
A system that treats waste as a resource, not a disposal problem.
Core Principles (6Rs)
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycle
- Refurbish
- Recover
- Repair
Goal: Keep materials in use, minimise resource extraction, and eliminate waste.
Types of Agricultural Waste
- Crop residues / stubble → often burned, causing pollution.
- Animal manure and carcasses → requires safe disposal and reuse.
- Post-harvest losses → quantity and quality losses in supply chain.
- Food waste → from retail and households.
Value Conversion Technologies
- Biomass energy
- Organic fertilisers
- Biogas production
- Biochar / engineered biochar (soil fertility + carbon sequestration)
Major Government Initiatives
1. GOBARdhan Scheme
- Converts dung, crop residues, and food waste into:
- Compressed biogas (CBG)
- Organic manure
- Supported by carbon credits, tax incentives, and digital portal.
2. Crop Residue Management (CRM)
- Promotes in-situ and ex-situ residue use.
- Reduces stubble burning.
- Improves soil health and farm productivity.
3. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
- Credit support for post-harvest infrastructure.
- ₹66,000+ crore sanctioned across projects like:
- Warehouses
- Cold storage
- Processing units
4. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)
- ₹15,000 crore fund.
- Supports dairy, meat processing, and waste-to-wealth systems.
5. Water Reuse Initiatives (Jal Shakti)
- Treated wastewater used for agriculture and landscaping.
- Promotes water conservation and groundwater recharge.
Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Circular agriculture supports:
- SDG 2: Food security and sustainable farming
- SDG 12: Responsible consumption
- SDG 13: Climate action
Helps address 1.05 billion tonnes of global food waste (2022).
