Dung Economics

India imports 22 million tonnes of LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) and 8 million tonnes of fertilizers (N, P, K) annually (2022-2024). This accounts for 46% of LNG demand and 31% of fertilizer demand in the country.

Impacts of import dependence

  • Strains foreign exchange reserves .
  • Makes India vulnerable to global supply disruptions and price fluctuations .
  • Affects food production, agricultural profitability, and food prices .
  • Environmental concerns: Excessive use of fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers degrades natural resources and harms human health.

Livestock and the Potential of Dung-Based Bio-Energy

  • India has 303 million cattle and buffaloes , producing 1,271 million tonnes of dung annually .
  • Dung can be converted into renewable energy (bio-CNG) and organic fertilizers .
  • Current usage:
    • 35% used as domestic fuel.
    • 65% used as manure, contributing 2.64 million tonnes of nitrogen, 1.16 million tonnes of phosphorus, and 2.48 million tonnes of potassium to the soil.
Dung Economics

Potential of Dung in Energy & Fertilizer Production

  • Dung-to-Bio-CNG Conversion:
    • Processing the dung used for manure can generate 13.4 million tonnes of bio-CNG .
    • Processing all available dung can yield 21.8 million tonnes of bio-CNG, equivalent to India's LNG imports .
  • Organic Fertilizer Generation:
    • Dung-to-bio-CNG processing produces 3.4 million tonnes of organic fertilizer .
    • This could reduce fertilizer imports by 43% .

Environmental & Agricultural Benefits

  • Reduces Methane Emissions: Prevents emissions from unmanaged dung.
  • Improves Soil Health: Biofertilizer from processed dung enhances:
    • Nutrient content (N, P, K).
    • Microbial activity for soil health.
    • Water retention & fertility .
  • Reduces Carbon Emissions: Bio-CNG potential equals 31.9 billion litres of petrol , reducing carbon emissions by 60% when used as an alternative fuel.
  • Government Policies & Challenges
    • Past biogas schemes failed due to inadequate dung collection at the household level .
    • Shift in policy focus:
      • Commercial-scale bio-CNG production from dung.
      • Development of efficient dung collection models and financial incentives for farmers .
      • Support for new bioenergy plants .
      • Carbon credit trading schemes to promote investment in biogas and bio-CNG projects .