SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday launched the country’s first state-supported biochar programme, with a plant to be set up at Neri in Hamirpur within six months.
A tripartite agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu between Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, the State Forest Department, and ProClime Services Pvt. Ltd., Chennai.
The CM said the project would serve dual purposes—tackling forest fires and invasive species such as lantana, while also creating jobs and generating carbon credits. ProClime will invest up to USD 1 million in the phased rollout. The plant will use pine needles, lantana, bamboo, and other residues to produce biochar through pyrolysis technology.
Local communities are to be roped in for biomass collection, with a payment of ₹2.50 per kg and performance-based incentives.
The government expects 50,000 person-days of income annually from this work, alongside direct employment at the plant.
Skill development programmes will also be run to train communities in safe collection practices and biochar applications.
Over 10 years, the project is projected to yield around 28,800 carbon credits.
While hailed as a climate-friendly initiative, officials acknowledged that success will depend on timely execution, community participation, and effective market linkage for biochar products.
The Forest Department will oversee collection and compliance, while the university will provide three acres of land and conduct research on agricultural use of biochar.
Experts say the scheme has potential, but caution that monetising carbon credits and ensuring sustainable biomass supply could prove challenging.
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