VNIT innovations on agro waste mgmt help farmers get more income sources

Nagpur: About 30 to 40% of fruits, flowers and vegetables grown by farmers perish due to reasons like poor storage facility, inclement weather, transportation, etc. The waste from these farm produce rarely gives any return to farmers. If any value can be generated from this waste, it can bring additional revenue to farmers.
With this idea of creating value from farm waste, city-based Visvesvarya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) has developed several technologies to increase the income of farmers.
A first-of-its-kind waste potato bio refinery plant, waste oranges utilization technology, decomposers, microbial culture and enzymes derived from agro waste for biogas production and animal fodder were also presented at the National Technology Week at Pragati Maidan in Delhi last week.
Eleven science departments liked atomic energy, DRDO and DST organized the event where VNIT was the only NIT to be invited for exhibiting their technology and innovations from May 11.
Themed ‘School to Start-up’, it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The week-long expo showcased innovative technology from various sectors, including education, healthcare and agriculture.
“The technologies on display addressed the growing concern of agriwaste management which has become a major issue in India. These innovations travelled from lab to land under a unique gambit of VNIT-Merino Industry collaboration and primarily focusing on agri-waste utilization,” said professor Sachin Mandavgane from the department of chemical engineering.
The other items included Bajrang Baan, a rapid decomposer for converting tough lignocellulosic biomass (C/N > 50) like paddy straw, cotton stalk and sugarcane trash.
“Two tonne per day organic manure is being processed using Bajrang Baan in Hapur in UT. Using the same technology, CII is coming up with two plants at Sirsa and Barnal,” said Mandavgane.
Angad Baan, an engineered microbial culture for increased bio leaching of nutrient like potash and zinc from biomass ash, and Bhim baan, enzymes derived from agro waste for animal fodder digestibility improvement and biogas production are the other products.
“The stall also showcased different products derived from waste potatoes and oranges, like essential oils, dietary fibers, nutraceutical tablets that have wide ranging applications across sectors ranging from confectioneries to animal nutrition,” said Mandavgane.
Millets related ready-to-eat nutritional supplements were also on display at the expo. All of these products are being commercialized with the support of the Merino Innovation Centre through a VNIT born startup named KRIATE, run and managed by Praful Dadhe, a research scholar under Mandavgane.
The exhibitors also included several startups.