This Pune Startup is Turning Farm Waste into Cash for Farmers

You know how farmers in India burn their crop residue after harvesting? Well, that's bad news for the environment and the climate. It causes a lot of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. But what if we told you that there is a way to make money from this farm waste instead of burning it?

That's what BiofuelCircle is doing. It's a startup from Pune that is connecting farmers with industries that need biomass and its products. It was started by Suhas Baxi and Ashwin Save in June 2020 with a mission to create a win-win situation for both the farmers and the industries.

BiofuelCircle collects biomass from farmers, turns it into biofuel, biofertilisers and biogas, and sells them to industrial customers. In return, it pays the farmers for their biomass and also gives them biofertilisers to make their soil better.

How does BiofuelCircle work?

BiofuelCircle has a simple and easy process that involves four steps:

1. Collection: BiofuelCircle has an app that lets farmers tell them how much biomass they have and where they are. The app also gives them tips on how to harvest, store and transport biomass. BiofuelCircle then sends its trucks to pick up the biomass from the farms and takes it to its processing units.
2. Processing: BiofuelCircle uses cool technologies to turn the biomass into biofuel pellets, briquettes, biochar, biogas and biofertilisers. These products can be used for different purposes in different industries like power plants, cement factories, hotels, restaurants and homes.
3. Delivery: BiofuelCircle sells its products online to various industrial customers all over India. It also delivers biofertilisers back to the farms for free, which helps the farmers make their soil healthier and their crops better.
4. Payment: BiofuelCircle pays the farmers for their biomass through digital modes like UPI or bank transfer. The average farmer who has about 2 acres of land can make an extra income of Rs 10,000–15,000 per year by selling his biomass.

What impact has BiofuelCircle created?

BiofuelCircle says it has created a positive impact on both the environment and the rural economy through its model. Some of the benefits are:

• Environmental benefits: BiofuelCircle has stopped over 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by using biomass instead of burning it. It has also cut down on fossil fuels and promoted renewable energy sources
• Economic benefits: BiofuelCircle has helped over 1,500 farmers across Maharashtra and Karnataka make extra income by selling their biomass. It has also improved their soil health and crop productivity by giving them organic biofertilisers.

What are BiofuelCircle's future plans?

BiofuelCircle wants to grow its business and reach more farmers and customers across India. It plans to:

Ashwin Save and Suhas Baxi, the co-founders of BiofuelCircle.

• Increase its collection network to cover more states and regions.
• Boost its processing capacity and product range to meet the growing demand for bioenergy products.
• Work with government agencies, NGOs and corporates to create awareness and incentives for biomass use.
• Develop new technologies and solutions to improve the efficiency and quality of biomass processing.

BiofuelCircle is a great example of how a social enterprise can create a win-win situation for both the environment and the rural economy. By using technology and innovation, it has created a circular economy that benefits both the farmers and the industries.