From Waste to Wealth: CBG Emerges as a New Rural Economic Opportunity

Turning Waste into Wealth

Pooja Srivastava | Anytime News Network

The second day of the India Bioenergy and Tech Expo-2026 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, put the spotlight on Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), agricultural waste utilisation and the potential of green energy to transform the rural economy.

Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Energy Minister A.K. Sharma said the CBG industry has enormous potential to increase farmers’ incomes while creating employment opportunities within villages. He stressed that agricultural and other waste could be converted into valuable energy resources.

UP’s Green Energy Push

Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had placed the country on the path of green energy and expressed confidence that Uttar Pradesh, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, would emerge as a major clean-energy hub.

He also assured entrepreneurs investing in the bioenergy sector that the state government would extend full support to facilitate investment and project development.

Agricultural Waste as an Asset

Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s position as the country’s largest grain-producing state and pointed to the enormous availability of agricultural waste.

He said technological innovation could convert this waste into energy and create an additional economic opportunity for farmers. According to him, converting agricultural residue into a productive energy source could contribute significantly to strengthening rural incomes.

Political Attack on Rahul Gandhi

The event also witnessed a sharp political exchange. A.K. Sharma criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and accused him of attempting to mislead farmers and young people through political statements. Sharma challenged Gandhi to demonstrate his understanding of basic educational terminology, including the Hindi terminology and full forms associated with IIT and IIM.

He said the country was moving towards development, innovation and technological advancement and argued that political discourse should recognise these changes.

One Lakh Small Biogas Plants

Energy Minister of State Kailash Rajput and Go Seva Commission Chairman Shyam Bihari Gupta stressed the need to integrate agriculture with livestock development. They called for the establishment of nearly one lakh small domestic-level biogas plants across the state.

₹1,000-Crore MoU

A ₹1,000-crore MoU between KIS and Paras Group was signed during the event. Research journals and agricultural publications were also released.

Delegates, experts and entrepreneurs from India and abroad discussed CBG, agricultural waste management, rural employment and the expansion of green-energy solutions.