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Monday / December 23. 2024
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MNRE supports new age digital marketplace for bioenergy and encourages entrepreneurial model for FPOs and farmers

 BiofuelCircle- a digital marketplace for biomass and biofuels, is developing a digital enterprise for FPOs and farmers. Under the guidance of MNRE and GIZ, it has partnered with BAIF to set up 20 such enterprises in Maharashtra. A workshop was organized in Pune to showcase the model and demonstrate on-ground development of strengthening the biomass supply chain.

The workshop was graced by the presence of Dinesh Jagdale, Joint Secretary, MNRE, Government of India as a keynote speaker where he elaborated on the changing energy landscape in India and how the country has taken a leadership position in terms of renewable energy. 

The two-day workshop was organized at the BAIF Campus in Pune where various industry experts deliberated on the potential of clean energy using technology-based solutions.  

Elaborating further Dinesh Jagdale, Joint Secretary, MNRE, Government of India said, “A digital marketplace like BiofuelCircle can shape the future biomass market for India. It gives an opportunity to a buyer and seller to interact anonymously, discover price through market mechanism, for – delivery time, place, and commodity of their choice. It also presents an opportunity for FPOs and rural enterprises to create viable business model to supply Agri residue as a green energy alternative.”

Adding to this, Suhas Baxi, Co-founder and CEO, BiofuelCircle said, “At BiofuelCircle we aim to establish a connect between industrial and rural India. We are working towards demystifying and standardizing biomass to make it more accessible by providing value discovery for manufacturers and buyers. Challenges for the development of FPOs have been identified and we are now working towards addressing them by taking the mission forward which will contribute towards sustainability and green energy in India.”

Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF said “It is a privilege to be a part of this initiative where we are working towards shaping the bioenergy landscape by transitioning it into an enterprise with the support of MNRE and BiofuelCircle. We are working on an integrated program by leveraging technologies to give a new direction to the rural program by creating a vibrant bioeconomy.”  

MNRE supports new age digital marketplace for

Shomita Biswas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare  addressing at International Summit ‘Artificial Intelligence & Digital Applications in Agriculture’, organized by FICCI

Shomita Biswas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India said that as the technology advances in India, we will soon have sensor-based use of drone application for which we all stakeholders have to jointly collaborate. “The eco-system is now in place, and it is up to the industry and Start-ups to leverage this eco-system,” she added.

Biswas said, “Once the sensor-based applications of drones start then we might not require huge data generation. Currently, we don’t have sensor based targeted approach of application of pesticides on nutrients through drones.”

Biswas further stated that in terms of mechanization, India is 40 percent mechanized country, but we now need some parameters by which we can also assess our technological progress as well including use of drones, AI, IoT, etc.

She also urged various universities and institutes working on judicious use of pesticides through drones to share the data and research findings with all stakeholders. We are saving up to 30 percent of the pesticides and it will come down further when we adopt targeted approach as part of the sustainable agriculture, she added.

Highlighting the importance of Start-ups, Biswas stated that the Start-ups should work on solutions at lower cost for the farmers along with providing good after sales service. “I urge the Start-ups to come forward and provide these services. The government agencies should also involve Start-ups to find solutions for certain services,” she noted.

Dr V Praveen Rao, Vice Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University (PJTSAU) said, “Due to labour scarcity, we are now seeding rice directly through drones. We are introducing high intensity planting of cotton in the state, and we want to use drones for this as well”.

Dr SK Malhotra, Former Agriculture Commissioner, Chairman, CIB&RC and Prjoject Director, DKMA said that we are now focusing on smart farming.

T R Kesavan, Chairman, FICCI National Agriculture Committee & Group President, TAFE Ltd said that drone is going to change the way the Indian agriculture will work and technology in agriculture will make it easy for everyone to access.

Dr JP Singh, Additional Plant Protection Adviser & Secretary, CIB&RC and Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri Start-ups & Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund also shared their perspective.

Shomita Biswas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture