VIJAYAWADA: A select group of farmers in Krishna district are going to generate power as a by-product by setting up biogas units in their dairy farms. Each of them will generate 180 units of power a day, besides making two tonnes of organic manure. Altogether, the income will be around Rs. 9,000 a day.

The project costs Rs. 25 lakhs, out of which the beneficiary will get a subsidy of Rs. 9 lakhs and a direct loan of Rs. 6.5 lakhs from any nationalised bank. Of the remaining amount, the beneficiary can apply for a loan of up to Rs. 7 lakhs. It means one can set up the unit by spending Rs. 2.5 lakhs, which is just 10 per cent of the total project cost.

Integration of schemes

Sounding impossible? Two Government departments in the district will make it possible by integrating two welfare schemes. Making better use of the subsidies offered by the State Government under different heads, the Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) and the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NEDCAP) recently drew up a plan to encourage milk producers to set up vermicompost units and biogas digesters.

The KVIB offers up to Rs. 10 lakhs for those who come forward to set up vermicompost units. The Government offers a 30 per cent cash subsidy and arranges loan up to 65 per cent on the unit. Animal dung is the raw material for vermicompost units.

The NEDCAP offers a cash subsidy of Rs. 6 lakhs on biogas digester unit, which costs Rs. 15 lakhs. Of the remaining amount, the beneficiary can get up to 75 per cent loan from banks. Animal dung used in biogas digester generates methane and converts it into electricity. The plant releases slurry, which will be converted into organic manure in less time compared to animal dung.

"We thought of encouraging our beneficiaries to go for gobar gas connections for the sake of slurry. After discussing the issue with the NEDCAP officials, we have changed the plan," says K.V. Vara Prasad, assistant director of the KVIB.

The NEDCAP recently announced a 40 per cent subsidy on biogas digester and is planning to launch an awareness campaign on the new project. "Power generated through the biogas digester can be used for domestic and agriculture purposes," says K. Srinivasa Rao, Krishna district manager of the NEDCAP. The plant requires three tonnes of animal dung a day.

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