MAHARASHTRA MODEL:
From Crop residue pyrolysis to Biochar and Afforestation
The Maharashtra model tackles the crucial issue of rising air pollution in India, while also creating high-quality carbon sinks. It also works towards maximising the additional benefits that come along with the use of biochar, focusing on water and nutrient retention to remediate these soils and increase crop yield.
Stubble – crop residue that is left post harvest, can be seen as both a nuisance and an opportunity. In India however, in most cases, it is the former. The drastic post-apocalyptic pictures of smog in Delhi are a direct result of stubble burning in North India. Indian cities reported Air Quality Index (AQIs) up to 20 times higher than the safe levels prescribed by the WHO. The cost of air pollution due to stubble burning is estimated to be $30 billion annually.
The state of Maharashtra itself burns about seven million tonnes of crop residue yearly – which is 80% of its total annual crop residue generated. Of this, sugarcane leaves, along with cotton, soy and wheat residue make up the bulk of the burnt stubble.
Using its uniquely assembled thermochemical platform, MASH Makes pyrolyzes crop residues in a containerized machine that produces high-quality biochar. The product in focus is the char – which is an excellent soil amendment additive that enables higher water and nutrient retention along with improving crop yields. The results of its effects are best seen with poor quality soils that are essentially deprived of carbon and other nutrients.
The project forms the basis for a long-term collaboration with Carbonfuture – with the hope for achieving the Giga-tonne (10^12 kg) CO2 removal ranges in the time to come. MASH already has set forth an ambitious plan that enables humanity to reach its climate targets sooner by 25 years using its platform.
