NDDB ropes in Sustain Plus for 10,000 biogas plants in 15 states

In a crucial stint to bolster the biogas sector and sustainable dairying in the country, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Bangalore-based NGO Sustain Plus have joined hands to launch a large-scale circular dairy program.

Under this, the NDDB and Sustain Plus will be installing 10,000 biogas plants across 15 states in India, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.

According to the official statement, the initiative—supported by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD)—would built climate-smart dairy villages while promoting scalable and sustainable farming practices throughout India. The program was inaugurated in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah.

Sustain Plus is a collaborative platform founded by Social Alpha, CInI, and SELCO Foundation, dedicated to deploying sustainable innovations to enhance rural livelihoods in India.

In the coming 4 years, these 10,000 biogas digesters will generate 3 lakh tonnes of organic slurry annually, enhancing soil health and reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. Further, the biogas plants will produce over 7 million cubic meters of biogas each year, supplying clean cooking fuel to 10,000 rural households.

The NDDB and Sustain Plus initiative will also facilitate the production of nearly 60,000 tonnes of Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) annually. This is enough to replace an equivalent amount of chemical phosphate fertilizers and further promoting sustainable and cost-effective farming practices.

Through this NDDB and Sustain Plus collaboration, dairy farmers across multiple states will benefit from improved manure management, renewable energy solutions, and enhanced dairy infrastructure. By integrating biogas plants, solar-powered dairy operations, and efficient milk collection systems, the program aims to lower input costs, enhance soil fertility, provide clean energy to rural households, and create additional income opportunities through organic fertilizer sales and carbon credits.

Ganesh Neelam, Director of Sustain Plus, highlighted that since 2021, their collaboration with NDDB has showcased the potential of integrating circularity into the dairy value chain by enhancing and expanding the “cow dung” economy. With MoUs signed with over 26 milk unions across 15 states, and the extensive dairy cooperative network serving as a powerful scaling platform, this model has the potential to be replicated nationwide—positioning India’s dairy sector as not only the world’s largest but also one of the most sustainable.