Ember & Char · Biochar for Indian farms
Turn crop stubble into carbon-rich biochar — not smoke.
KisanKiln converts crop residue into biochar using decentralised pyrolysis kilns — improving soil and creating durable carbon-removal credits, with fair benefit-sharing for the people doing the work.
The problem
Burning residue wastes value and fouls the air
Every harvest, surplus crop residue is set alight because clearing it any other way costs more than the straw is worth. The carbon goes up as smoke instead of into the soil.
- ~87–93 Mt
- of an estimated 120–150 Mt of surplus crop residue is burned in India each year.
- 20+ Mt
- of paddy straw is generated in Punjab & Haryana alone.
- ~30%
- of Delhi's winter pollution is linked to crop-residue burning.
Figures are widely cited public estimates and vary by year and source.
How it works
From stubble to credits in four steps
A kiln chars residue instead of burning it — turning waste into a soil product and a measurable carbon outcome.
- 01
Collect & prepare crop residue
Gather paddy straw and other surplus residue and let it dry, instead of burning it in the field.
- 02
Pyrolyse in the kiln
Heat the residue in a low-oxygen kiln (pyrolysis, roughly 300–700 °C) so it chars instead of combusting.
- 03
Produce carbon-rich biochar
The kiln yields biochar — a stable, porous carbon that improves soil and stores carbon for the long term.
- 04
Measure, verify & earn carbon credits
MRV quantifies the carbon durably removed, which registries can certify as carbon-removal credits.
Why biochar
Better soil now, carbon stored for the long term
Biochar is a stable, porous carbon. Returned to the field it supports soil; locked in that stable form, its carbon resists returning to the atmosphere.
Soil benefits
- Improves soil structure and water retention.
- Supports beneficial soil microbial life.
- Can help reduce nutrient loss over time.
Carbon benefits
- Locks biomass carbon into a durable, stable form.
- Avoids the emissions of open-field burning.
- Provides the basis for durable carbon-removal credits.
Carbon revenue
A new income line — honestly framed
Durable biochar carbon removal can be certified and sold as carbon credits. That can add income on top of biochar's on-farm value — but the numbers are estimates, not promises.
Estimates, not guarantees
Our differentiator
Who it's for
Built for the people who handle the residue
From single farms to state programs, KisanKiln meets each group where they are.
FPOs & cooperatives
Members burn paddy and other residue every season because collecting, storing, and disposing of it costs more than the straw is worth — and no single farm produces enough volume to access carbon markets.
How the kiln helps →Smallholder farmers
Burning stubble is fast and cheap, but it degrades your soil, risks fines, and wastes biomass that has real value.
How the kiln helps →Biomass aggregators
Aggregators move large, seasonal volumes of residue on thin margins with uncertain offtake and price volatility.
How the kiln helps →State & CSR stubble programs
Public and CSR programs need auditable, measurable outcomes — not just subsidised machinery that often still ends in burning.
How the kiln helps →Research origin & partners
Rooted in research, built for the field
IIT Kharagpur — research origin
The kiln traces its research origin to IIT Kharagpur. We name IIT Kharagpur as a research origin, not as an endorser.
Agpro Consulting Private Limited — commercialization & carbon partner
Agpro Consulting Private Limited is taking the kiln toward field deployment and leads the carbon and commercialization work.
The pathway
Residue → Kiln → Biochar → Credits
One simple path connects a burning problem to soil health and carbon revenue.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short, honest answers to what people ask first.
- What is biochar?
- Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich charcoal made by heating crop residue in a low-oxygen kiln (pyrolysis). Added to soil, it can improve structure, water retention, and microbial life while keeping carbon locked away for a long time.
- Is making biochar better than burning stubble?
- Open-field burning releases carbon and pollutants straight into the air and leaves only ash. Pyrolysis in a kiln converts the same residue into biochar, retaining much of the carbon in a stable form and producing a useful soil product instead of smoke.
- How much carbon revenue can I earn?
- It depends on your biomass volume, biochar quality, MRV results, registry methodology, and carbon prices at the time of issuance. Any figures we share are estimates for planning only — not guarantees. A feasibility assessment gives a grounded, project-specific estimate.
- What makes your carbon model different?
- Fair benefit-sharing. The farmers and operators who supply the biomass and run the kilns should keep the majority of the carbon revenue — not hand over the 20–50% commission that many carbon intermediaries charge.
- Which carbon registries are relevant?
- Biochar carbon removal is recognised by registries such as Puro.earth, Isometric, and Verra. The right pathway depends on the project; we help assess which methodology and registry fit your situation.
- Do I have to buy a kiln?
- No. Beyond owning a unit, you can access a kiln through a custom-hiring model or an FPO-shared arrangement — so smallholders and groups can participate without the upfront cost of equipment.
- What are the kiln's capacity and throughput?
- We publish device capacity, throughput, and yield only once they are verified. Those figures are currently marked [CONFIRM] and we won't quote unconfirmed specifications.
- What crop residues can be used?
- Paddy straw is a primary focus, especially in Punjab and Haryana, but many surplus agricultural residues can be suitable. A feasibility assessment confirms what works for your residue type and volume.
- Where did the technology come from?
- The kiln traces its research origin to IIT Kharagpur. Agpro Consulting Private Limited works as the commercialization and carbon partner taking it toward field deployment. IIT Kharagpur is named as a research origin, not as an endorser.
- How do I get started?
- Request a Biochar Project Feasibility Assessment. Share your residue type and approximate volume, your location, and whether you're interested in adopting a kiln, carbon credits, or a partnership — and we'll take it from there.
More questions? Ask on WhatsApp or request a feasibility assessment.
Find out if biochar works for your residue
Get a project-specific feasibility assessment — residue, biochar, and an honest carbon-revenue estimate.