Latest news with #CSIR-IndianInstituteofChemicalTechnology
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Wealth from waste: how crop residue can provide nutritious cattle fodder, make farming eco-friendly
Scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here seems to have found a solution to the country's mounting problem of dealing with agriculture residue such as paddy straw and rice and wheat husk. Over the past few years, scientists at the premier institute have been working on converting rice straw and other crop residue into nutrient rich fodder for the livestock and also other value-added products such as Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and Fermented Organic Manure (FOM). Usually farmers resort to burning the crop residues, leading to environment pollution. Though it is already being used as cattle fodder, it is not as nutritious as other foods. Scientists have now shown that crop residue like rice straw when treated with a relatively simple chemical process could effectively help bridge the gap in the country's fodder needs, besides protecting the environment. By separating 'lignin', a complex polymer found in plant cell walls, and adding a few essential ingredients, rice straw could be turned into a cattle fodder with improved palatability and digestibility. The process is called 'delignification', said principal scientist Polumati Anand. After testing the process in an in house pilot plant on the institute campus in Tarnaka, the fortified fodder was evaluated in field trials. Buffalo calves and sheep were fed the fodder and their food intake, digestion and growth examined. These field trials of the fortified fodder held at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Chengicharla, (Hyderabad) showed 'remarkable' improvements in digestibility of buffaloes as palatability increased from 20% to 60%, he explained. Weight gain in the sheep was approximately 3.7 times higher and methane emissions from the animals also dropped. Following tests on sheep, goats and buffaloes, the treated biomass is being fed to cows as well, said Dr. Anand. Utilising the 'delignified' paddy straw in the animal diets offers a sustainable and economical alternative, reducing feed costs and promoting eco-friendly farming practices. Studies are also being carried out at P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Rajendranagar (Hyderabad), to evaluate the effect of fortified fodder developed by CSIR-IICT on the milk yield and quality, said the principal scientist. Scientists are of the view that treated biomass could effectively deal with the growing need for a cost-effective animal fodder with enhanced nutritional efficiency with farmers as direct beneficiaries. The institute has also developed a Dry Anaerobic Digester with Unique Hydrodynamics (DAD-UH) Technology for the generation of CBG and FOM from rice straw and rice husk. A pilot plant, which is being operated on the institute campus for the past 18 months, has shown that about 100 kg and 140 kg of CBG could be generated from one tonne of rice husk and straw respectively, said scientist Sameena. Chief Scientist A.G. Rao said that as per the Centre's SATAT (Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation) programme, a minimum of two tonnes per day capacity CBG plant can be installed by an entrepreneur, and the gas generated could be supplied to nearby CNG bunks being operated by Oil Manufacturing Companies. These plants are remunerative with a simple payback period of four years with guaranteed CBG and FOM (Fermented Organic Manure) purchase from by the Centre, he said. The pilot plants and the process of reinventing crop residues was showcased during a recent farmers conclave held at the institute, where Telangana Agriculture Secretary M. Raghunandan Rao expressed concern over farmers burning crop residue. The government is proposing to set up agri-based industries using biomass and others, including CNG plants on land belonging to the Agriculture department, he said. Hailing the farm friendly products, CSIR-IICT Director D. Srinivasa Reddy said the institute, which had played a pioneering role in promoting pharma and allied industries, has also been working on developing eco-friendly technologies. 'Resources currently considered as 'waste' are being utilised as 'resources' for the generation of value-added products in addition to complimenting farmers' income,' he added.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Telangana govt to host event to bring farmers, farm research bodies together
Telangana Government is planning to organise a conclave of the Hyderabad based Central and State scientific organisations working on agriculture research to have an outreach programme with the farming community, informed Agriculture secretary M. Raghunandan Rao on Thursday (June 12, 2025). Addressing farmers and scientists at a one-day workshop on 'Environmentally Benign Farming Practices for Farmers: Fermented Organic Manure from Anaerobic Digestion and Pheromones for Pest Control' organised by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here, Mr. Rao said about 25 such organisations are researching diverse crops like rice, millets and also in meat, poultry, bio-manures, biogas etc., are working from the capital region. The government wants farmers of the State to know about the four to five key products being offered by these organisations in the planned exhibition, where farmers can also interact with the scientists. Proposed to be held over a period of three days in two months time, it is to help farmers enhance their incomes and livelihoods by going for eco-friendly measures in agriculture and in livestock maintenance. Action plan to disburse Rythu Bharosa ready The annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 per acre ('Rythu Bharosa') will soon be released for all the farmers, and an action plan is ready for the same. The government has also decided to participate in centrally sponsored agriculture schemes for improving soil health, mechanisation, drip irrigation, digitisation, and promoting oil seeds production with a budget allocation of ₹1,600 crore after a gap of five years, said Mr. Rao. CNG plant using paddy residue Another interesting concept in the offing is the proposal to set up agri-based industries using biomass and others on lands belonging to the agriculture department with CNG plants likely to take off first using paddy residue. The secretary has urged farmers to avoid overuse of fertiliser as it would affect the soil health and not to burn paddy residue. 'Let us not follow Punjab and Haryana, where soil health has taken a beating due to the excess usage of fertilisers. Burning of paddy residue will lead to atmospheric pollution and other hazards. We will soon have a plant to make use of it,' he said. Earlier, CSIR-IICT director D. Srinivas Reddy explained about the institute's initiatives towards helping farmers and promoting green energy like the production of biogas using vegetable waste, bio-manure, and others. Senior scientists A Gangagni Rao and B.V. Subba Reddy participated. About 300 participants were later shown the pilot plants for organic farming, anaerobic gas lift reactor technology, accelerated anaerobic composting technology, and the pheromone application eco-friendly pest management that traps insects/pests.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
CSIR IICT ex-chief scientist awarded Raja Ramanna Chair (RRC)
Former chief scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) Manorama Sunkara Vardhireddy has been awarded the Raja Ramanna Chair (RRC) by the Department of Atomic Energy as a testament to her decades-long contributions to materials science and impactful research in chemical sensors and nanostructured materials. The tenure of this position is three years and she will join CSIR-IICT. Ms. Vardhireddy, with a foundational background in physics from Savitribai Phule Pune University, began her research journey in materials science, eventually becoming a pioneering figure in chemical sensors. She played a key role in developing sensors for detection of toxic and explosive gases, such as a low-temperature H₂S sensor for use in nuclear reactors, a room-temperature hydrogen sensor (recognised as breakthrough research by Ames Laboratory, USA), and a carbon monoxide sensor to prevent poisoning in oxygen-deficient environments encountered by defense personnel, said a press release.
