Reliance to pump-in Rs 100 crore with ICAR to develop biogas feedstock

As biofuels development is gaining pace across the country, energy conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is looking to strengthen corporate involvement in agricultural research with an investment of Rs 100 crore in a special project with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The investment is being made by Reliance for developing 11 varieties of grass species to serve as feedstock for compressed biogas (CBG) production in the country.

As per reports, Reliance is expected to formalize its collaboration with ICAR’s Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) in Jhansi to support this project.

Of the total investment by Reliance, Rs 85 crore will directly fund the five-year project. The IGFRI will retain the patent rights for the grass varieties and Reliance will have the liberty to commercially cultivate or engage in contract farming of the species in suitable locations.

A key focus of the project will be on the Bajra-Napier hybrid, a crossbreed of bajra which is a millet and the Napier grass. Despite its high yield potential, this hybrid has struggled to gain traction among farmers due to the lack of an assured market.

Developing these fodder crops is relatively straightforward, but ensuring consistent yields across rainfed and irrigated conditions during both Kharif and Rabi seasons remains a challenge. In southern India, the Bajra-Napier hybrid yields about 250 tonnes per hectare annually, with potential to reach 300-350 tonnes through improved management. However, in northern India, colder climates reduce average yields to 70-100 tonnes per hectare. Scientists are working to develop cold-resistant varieties to address this disparity.

This initiative represents a pivotal step toward sustainable agricultural practices and biogas feedstock production, advancing both economic and environmental objectives.

Previously, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani had announced in an Annual Meeting that Reliance would foray into biogas development sector with initially planned 100 CBG plants across the country. Thereafter, the company revealed plans for developing over 50 CBG plants investing more than Rs 5,000 crore two years. In November, Reliance held that it will pump in Rs 65,000 crore in the state of Andhra Pradesh for building 500 biogas projects.