Reliance Industries (RIL) is reportedly set to invest in a project under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), marking a significant development in agricultural research aimed at attracting corporate interest. The funding will support the development of 11 grass species varieties to be used as feedstock for producing compressed biogas. RIL is expected to sign an agreement with ICAR’s Jhansi-based Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), reported The Hindu Business Line citing sources.
The project will be for a period of five years and about Rs 85 crore (excluding GST) will be pumped in by RIL. While the patent will remain with IGFRI, RIL will be free to take these species to suitable location for commercial/contract farming, report further added citing company source familiar with the negotiations.
One existing variety, the Bajra-Napier hybrid, a cross between bajra (millet) and Napier grass, is already available and could be commercially used. However, its adoption by farmers has been limited due to the lack of an assured market, despite its high yield potential, an agricultural scientist from IGFRI explained.
While developing these fodder crops is not particularly challenging, the difficulty lies in maintaining consistent yield levels under both rainfed and irrigated conditions, as well as across the Kharif and Rabi seasons, sources stated.
