Context: In Bandhiya (Gangwara) village of Dewa block, over 35 farmers have embraced solar-powered essential oil extraction, significantly reducing environmental impact and conserving resources, with support from CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, under the ‘MintUP’ project.
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- Sponsored by Haleon UK Pvt Ltd.,this initiative is paving the way for the village to emerge as a model of sustainable and climate-resilient farming in India.
- \CSIR-CIMAP has developed an eco-friendly Centralised Solar Hybrid Distillation Unit (CSHDU) to extract essential oils from aromatic crops.
- This new technology is designed to reduce carbon emissions, increase farmers’ income, and promote sustainable farming practices.
- The CSHDU technology harnesses solar energy to produce steam, removing the need for wood burning during the day and significantly cutting down on environmental pollution.
- A one-ton capacity prototype has been successfully installed at a farmer’s site in Barabanki.
- The unit features 40 solar panels, a hybrid steam boiler, and steam generation systems, all designed to ensure consistent and efficient steam production.
- It represents a major step toward a greener future, with long-lasting benefits for both farmers and the environment.
- By adopting this technology, farmers growing aromatic crops can expect higher purity essential oils, improved yields, and increased income.
- In village, farmers are also using solar panels for other farming needs such as powering water pumps, charging batteries, and supplying electricity to their homes.
- This initiative has significantly reduced their reliance on diesel-powered water pumps, leading to zero carbon emissions during irrigation.
- It helps lower input costs by eliminating the need to purchase diesel for operating the pumps.