Organic Carbon Enhancers: Government amends law to include CBG manure as fertilizer
With the change, the definition of fertilizers now explicitly covers nano fertilizers and organic carbon enhancers from CBG plants. The government has also introduced Schedule VIII in the existing order to specify regulations and classifications for Organic Carbon Enhancers.
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has amended the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order of 1985 and has now included the ‘Organic Carbon Enhancers’ that are coming out from Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants as a recognized category of fertilizers. This will give push to more organic fertilizer use in the farm sector, bolster CBG plants’ growth and sustainable development in India.
The amendment was notified through S.O. 897(E) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. With this change, the definition of fertilizers now explicitly covers nano fertilizers and organic carbon enhancers from CBG plants. The government has also introduced Schedule VIII in the existing order to specify regulations and classifications for Organic Carbon Enhancers.
The notification in the Gazette of India held that “Organic Carbon Enhancer” from Compressed Bio Gas plants means any organic material produced by fermentation process either as a main product or by product. These organic fertilizers increase or maintain the organic carbon when applied to soil or plant grow material media having favorable effect on soil and plant growth, said the notification.
Benefitting Indian Biomes
This amendment aims to promote sustainable farming by encouraging the use of organic soil enhancers sourced from renewable bio-resources. It aligns with India’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, improve soil organic matter, and enhance both farm productivity and environmental sustainability.
By incorporating organic carbon enhancers into the fertilizer framework, the government reinforces its commitment to bio-based agricultural solutions. This initiative is expected to support Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) projects and drive waste-to-wealth efforts within the agriculture sector.
Several reports have indicated that soil across most agro-climatic zones in India has become deficient in organic carbon. The new “Carbon Enhancer” will restore the depleted carbon and revitalize the soil health. Additionally, from a global warming perspective, this enhancer will sequester carbon, delivering a dual benefit.
‘Carbon Enhancer’ on the rise
The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has been requesting the government that the enlist state-owned fertilizer marketing firms should manage the distribution of fermented organic manure (FOM) which will directly help in the growth of the biogas sector in India. IBA says that India presently produces about 1 million metric tonnes of FOM per annum (MMTA). With the coming up of new biogas projects, the potential of FOM will increase to 7 MMTA and this can could meet the fertilizer needs of an entire state like Rajasthan.
Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General, Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), welcomed the decision, stating, “IFGE CBG Producer Forum has been actively engaging with the government to advocate for this critical amendment. We are delighted to see this success, which will empower farmers, promote sustainable soil management, and make the CBG industry viable.”
IFGE held that by promoting the widespread use of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) and Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM), that are produced from biogas plants, this initiative will also enhance water retention in soil, boost crop yields, and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers benefitting farmers by ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.
This is one of the important decision by FCO . It will help to promote the use of FOM and LFOM . It will improve the soil quality with water conservation too.