In Karnataka, dairy farming families with biogas plants remain untouched by LPG crisis

The ongoing disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders due to the conflict in West Asia has not affected some dairy farm families in Karnataka and neighboring states who supply milk to an organic dairy business with its factory in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district.

The disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders affected hoteliers and households. While many hotels have been forced to close, domestic consumers are struggling with delays in refills. However, Akshayakalpa dairy farm families with units in Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu are exempt from this problem. They have become self-sufficient in energy thanks to the biogas facilities installed on their farms.

The firm has more than 2,800 milk producers spread across three states. Among them, more than 1,700 farmers have installed biogas units. This includes 1,400 units in Karnataka, around 190 units in Ranga Reddy and Mehaboob Nagar districts of Telangana and 80 units in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu.

“Biogas units are an integral part of our farmers’ dairy operations. Our farmers stopped depending on LPG cylinders a long time ago,” said Shashi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of the firm. The company plays a role in establishing dairy farm units according to their design.

Farm units have biogas in varying capacities depending on the number of cattle they own. “Our farmers have biogas plants that produce 50 cubic meters of gas per day on an average. We can say that each farmer produces gas equivalent to two LPG cylinders at home. This is more than enough for a family of four to six,” said Mr. Shashi Kumar. Each biogas plant requires initial investment of up to ₹15,000. He added that it converts the methane in cow manure into a sustainable renewable energy source.

Each biogas plant requires initial investment of up to ₹15,000. It converts methane in cow manure into a sustainable renewable energy source. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL EDITING

Madarabpalya’s Siddalingaswamy MV in Tiptur taluk of Tumakuru district has been supplying milk to the company for the last three years. Siddalingaswamy said, “We produce biogas equivalent to four LPG cylinders per month, which is more than our requirement. We have saved a significant amount of money we had previously spent on LPG and got rid of the tension of refilling.”

He looks after 20 cows and provides 200 liters of milk a day. It feeds 250 kg of cow manure to the biogas plant every day. The digested slurry is used as organic fertilizer, improving soil health. His family, along with agricultural workers, cooks meals for about 10 people a day. “On an average, every farmer saves 20,000 to 25,000 per year by not purchasing LPG cylinders,” said Rajeev K., Head of Operations (Extension), Akshayakalpa.

The company also has a dairy unit with over 40 cattle and a biogas unit at its facility at Kodihalli in Channaryapatna taluk. He runs a large canteen powered by biogas. Canteen employees prepare 600 meals for more than 300 employees working in 3 shifts every day. Uday Kumar, facility manager of the facility, said, “If we were to cook using LPG cylinders, we would need at least 50 cylinders per month. However, we manage the canteen with the biogas plant on the facility premises.”