Innovative Uses of Bio-Slurry: Value-Added Products and Safe Utilization Protocols

Gobardhan: Under Gobardhan, Community/Cluster Level Biogas plants are established under SBM(G) 2.0 in Rural areas which uses the feedstock like cattle dung and other biodegradable waste and converts it into Biogas and Bio-slurry through anaerobic digestion. Key challenges include the inadequate utilization options for bio-slurry including value added products from bio slurry. Bio-slurry is currently utilized majorly for agriculture and is given free to the farmers, resulting in untapped revenue generation. Background: Bio-slurry from GOBARdhan plants is nutrient-rich but remains poorly managed. It is largely untreated and not being converted into value-added products such as FOM (Fermented Organic Manure), LFOM (Liquid Fermented Organic Manure), and PROM (Phosphate Rich Organic Manure). A key reason is that community/ cluster level GOBARdhan biogas plants are small-scale projects, which makes processing, quality testing, and certification to FCO standards difficult to sustain. Description: Develop innovative & cost-effective solution using nature based or other methods for the bio-slurry generated from the community/ cluster level GOBARdhan biogas plants to address the challenges of untreated bio-slurry and create a better value for the same. This will include nutrient enrichment, effective transportation and storage of the enriched products at the village level for adequate application. Expected Solution: An innovative, cost-effective and nature based or otherwise solutions to be used for bio-slurry enrichment, converting the same into value-added products such as FOM (Fermented Organic Manure), LFOM (Liquid Fermented Organic Manure), and PROM (Phosphate Rich Organic Manure), which should adhere to the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) Norms, 2025 and subsequent amendments or any other by-products. Potential Impact: Optimum capacity utilization of GOBARdhan plant. Better offtake and utilization of bio-slurry resulting in additional income for GOBARdhan plants Enriched bio-slurry improves soil health; reduced chemical fertilizer use.