Overview of Agricultural Waste Management
The agricultural waste consists of solid waste generated from various agricultural operations. Commonly found agricultural waste includes wastes from animal farms, poultry houses and slaughterhouses, harvest waste, fertiliser runoff from fields, pesticides that enter the environment, and salt and silt drained from fields. Today, the management of agricultural harvest waste is increasingly being converted into profitable businesses. Two approaches can broadly do waste management from the above farming discards, the first being management through the disposal of the waste and the other being the recycling of agricultural by-products. While the former method hardly has any business value, the latter approach is widely used to make products through agricultural by-products. Management of agricultural waste has a huge growth opportunity in an agriculture-based economy. Apart from waste management, these units can grow into manufacturing units that produce plant-based products. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has taken many steps to work towards the management of agricultural waste and convert it into products that are useful either for humans, animals or farmland (soil). ICAR institutes and KVKs under ATARIs prioritise small and medium-scale industries to manage agricultural discards and convert agricultural waste into wealth. ICAR also helps in the skill development and training of farmers and entrepreneurs and teaches them the techniques for value addition. They also assist in the sourcing of equipment.
Management of Post-Harvest Agricultural Waste
India produces more than 620 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, of which only 25-30% is utilised as livestock fodder and energy production. The rest gets discarded. This trend leads to a loss of usable resources due to the lack of management facilities. The following are the standard methods practised in the management of agricultural waste.
Through Disposal Methods: Destruction techniques used for biodegradable components like waste disposal through incineration, burying agricultural waste and agricultural waste disposal by SWM Units are popular but not economically rewarding.
Through Co-processing and Recycling: Many manufacturing businesses have emerged that are using the post-harvest waste from agriculture, pisciculture, horticulture etc., as raw materials. Insect farming is also gaining in popularity in the agricultural industry. ICAR assists in technology capital investment and infrastructural requirements and provides training to farmers and entrepreneurs who want to enter the waste management sector based on agricultural waste.
Industries Converting Wastes into High-Value Products
A list of popular industries that use agricultural waste (including by-products from animal farming) has been listed for your convenience.
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Examples of Industries |
Benefits |
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Preparation of Handmade Paper from Jute Waste |
Significantly less energy and resources are required as compared to virgin paper |
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Preparation of protein Isolates/Concentrates from De-Oiled Cakes/Meals using Novel Process. |
Availability of superior protein at lower cost and help to combat protein malnutrition in the country |
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Production of Enzymes like Cellulases by Microbial Fermentation Utilizing Groundnut Shell |
A facility can earn approximately ₹ 20,000 by utilising 100 kg of groundnut shell. Also, this industry needs minimum facilities to produce crude cellulase. The cost per unit is also very nominal as raw material is cheap. |
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Production of Bio Compost and Organic Manure from Lac Mud |
New technologies can produce enriched compost from diverse crop residues within 65-70 days. |
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Making Paper Plates from Natural Fibre Biomass |
Increased demand for paper products due to the Single-use plastic ban. Also, easy and cheap availability of raw materials from banana fibre extractors, sugarcane industries, Incubators/start-ups etc. |
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Essential Oil Extraction from Crop Residues of Seed Spices |
Residues which otherwise are of no use are utilised. Such businesses can provide an additional source of income to seed spices grower. |
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Producing Calcium from Fish Bones, Collagen Peptide from Fish Processing Waste, Gelatin from Fish Skin etc. |
A cheaper and popular alternative for commercially available calcium, collagen and gelatins supplements. The process for production is also simple, with minimum capital investment. |
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Phospho-Sulpho-Nitro (PSN) Compost |
PSN compost is popularly used as a partial substitution of chemical fertiliser, and improves soil health and biological activity. |
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Producing Alcoholic Beverage with Nutraceutical Properties from Kinnow peels |
Alcoholic beverages with higher Nutraceutical properties. Also helps in proper waste utilisation. |
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Isolation of Antioxidants, Pectin and Dietary Fibre from Mango Peel |
High yield of antioxidants (16-20%), dietary fibre (40%) and pectin (9-11). Less capital includes a capital requirement of Rs.45 lakhs. Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) is 1.11 |
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Making Porous Bricks from Crop Residue |
High demand in the market because porous bricks have better insulation in buildings and a higher cooling effect. |
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Making Soilless Medium through Coconut Wastes Composts |
In demand due to excellent potting mixture for all types of polybags/ grow bags or pot cultivation in peri-urban farming. |
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Manufacturing Chitosan-based Hand Sanitiser |
Popular product because of being Plant-based and has a moisturising effect |
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Wastewater Treatment for Safe Reuse in Agriculture |
adds good value to the land used for wastewater treatment, aquaculture/ agriculture etc. |
Documents needed for Agricultural Waste Management Authorisation and Consent
- Proof of ownership of site or rent/lease agreement;
- Factory license/trade license;
- Electricity bill
- Details of the machinery installed.
- Details of Pollution control devices
- Aadhar and PAN Card of the Authorized Signatory
- GST Certificate
- Layout plan;
- Process flow chart.
- Any other document mentioned in the application form
Requirements for setting up Agricultural Waste Management Facility
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 regulate agriculture waste management. Units need to obtain authorisation for disposal if the entrepreneurs opt for waste management through disposal and obtain all licences and permits. Industrial setups that use agricultural waste need consent NOC from the concerned SPCB under the Air Act and Water Act. Company registration, GST Registration and fire NOC and other relevant licences must also be obtained. The procedural journey of starting the facility can be time-consuming and tedious for many; therefore, expert assistance in the journey can streamline the entire process, saving the business time and money. The process of Consent has been outlined in the table below
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Documentation and Application Fee The applicant has to apply in Form-I to the concerned SPCBs for grant of authorisation under SWM Rules, 2016 and Consent NOC under the Air and Water Act before setting up an agricultural waste processing, treatment or disposal facility. |
Document Scrutiny and site inspection Authorities
Documents will be scrutinised by the SPCB/PCC to assess the facility. The inspection officer prepares an inspection report after an inspection of the site. |
Issuance of authorisation and Consent
The SPCB/ PCC will grant the authorisation in Form III subject to fulfilment of mandatory infrastructural and Pollution control measures. |
Need for Agricultural Waste Management Facilities
India produces 25.94 million tonnes of chemical fertilisers (NPK) annually. Agricultural waste contains 0.5% nitrogen, 0.2% phosphorus and 1.5% potassium as a source of plant nutrient. Waste processing facilities can potentially replace 6.5 million tonnes of chemical fertiliser requirement, equivalent to 25% of the total NPK requirement of the country. Profitability can be achieved by processing the by-product and utilising the waste as energy inputs for another system. Clever use of science and technology to improve traditional practices for maximum benefit at minimum damage to natural resources.
- Minimum waste production
- On-farm or off-farm utilisation of waste
- Minimum waste production (reduce), reuse and recycling
- the waste into a new product like methane
- Maximum employment and income generation around the year
- Improve soil health and fertility
- Increases economic yield per unit area per unit time
- Reduces piling of waste.
How will Enterclimate Assist You?
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Solutions specific to your requirements We, at Enterclimate, provide one-stop support for your legal requirements concerning Agricultural Waste Management authorisation. |
Unmatched Service and Swift Assistance Approach Enterclimate for all your authorisation and compliance requirements needed in Agricultural Waste Management and experience the difference in service brought by experts with years of experience in the field. |
Expert Assistance throughout Any issues raised during the authorisation process will be resolved through our team of experts known for their precise and prompt assistance. |
