Biofuel marts to come up in all dists

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday launched two new biofuel schemes, ‘Hombelaku’ and Hongirana, at an event organised by Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board. 

Under ‘Hongirana,’ biofuel marts will be set up in all districts. Managed by NGOs, these marts will sell biofuel seedlings, seeds, oil, bio-diesel, de-oiled cakes, soaps, and other products. These marts will also back up as information and facilitation centres.

‘Hombelaku’ scheme mainly aims at decentralised value addition of producing and utilising non-edible oil and de-oiled cake as manure.  Mini oil expellers are provided to women self help groups under this scheme. A budgetary allocation of Rs 15 lakh is provided for setting up 60 such units to benefit self help groups.

The community driven, pro-agricultural scheme helps in development of rural economy and empowerment of women.

‘Hombelaku’ was launched by providing the first oil expelling unit to a women’s organisation of Chikkaballapur.

In the past four-and-a-half-years, the Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board has planted 542 lakh bio-fuel seedlings such as Pongamia, Neem, Mahua Simarouba under Hasiru Honnu, Baradu Bangara and Suvarna Bhoomi schemes.