In the forests and countryside of India, Lantana, locally known as Jarmari, is an extremely dangerous shrub, which has become a major concern for the people living in these rural areas. This plant grows on its own;It absorbs soil nutrients and moisture, making the land toxic to cattle, destroying crops, and causing economic damage to agriculture by harbouring wild animals and pests. It is a fast-spreading shrub that completely destroys the native vegetation and poses a major threat to biodiversity. However, now with the help of technology, this wild shrub can be turned into a great source of energy by turning it into biomass pellets. This article delves into the industrial use of lantana and the entire process of pellet manufacturing.

Why Lantana? (Raw Material Advantage)

Lantana is an ideal choice as a biomass because of its following characteristics:

1. High Calorific Value

The energy value of lantana wood is very high.
• Its calorific value is around 3800 to 4200 kcal/kg .
• It competes with many common woods and even inferior quality coal (lignite).

2. Abundance of Lignin (Natural Binder)

While making pellets, a ‘binder’ or glue is needed to hold the pellets together.
• The amount of lignin in lantanas is very good.
• When it is pressed (compression) in the machine, the heat melts the lignin and acts as a natural glue. With this, you do not need to add any chemical on top and the pellet becomes as strong as stone.

3. Low Ash Content

When coal is burned, up to 20-30% ash is released, which corrodes the boiler.
• The ash content of Lantana pellets is only 2% to 5%.
• This increases the lifespan of the machines and also reduces pollution.

4. Free and Unlimited Raw Material Cost

Lantana is an ‘invasive weed’.
• The farmer does not have to provide seeds, fertilizers or water to grow it.
• It is spread free of charge over forests and barren land. The government and the forest department also encourage its removal, so that raw material can be obtained very cheaply or only at the price of wages.

5. Ecosystem Restoration

If Lantana Camara is burnt, there is pollution. But if pellets of lantana are prepared, then:
• The forests will be freed of this poisonous bush.
• This will improve the ground water level and provide space for other native grasses/plants to grow.

6. Low Moisture Retention

Lantana wood dries quickly. For pellets, 10-12% moisture is needed, which is easily obtained by exposing lantana to the sun.
Comparing fuel sources, Lantana pellets are a superior and environmentally friendly alternative to coal. Coal causes high pollution, emits carbon dioxide and releases 20-30% ash, while Lantana pellets are carbon-neutral and release only 2-5% ash.
From an economic perspective, coal is often expensive and has to be imported, while Lantana offers an affordable and local solution. Most importantly, while coal mining damages the earth, clearing the invasive lantana for fuel actually helps restore wasteland and improves soil health.

The Detailed Process of Pellet Manufacturing

A systematic process is followed to prepare pellets from lantana:

1. Collection and Harvesting: Lantana from forests or wasteland is harvested from the top of the root. This can include both dry and green woods.
2. Drying: The moisture level should be 10% to 12% for making pellets. The cut lantana is dried in the sun or by using a ‘dryer machine’.
3. Crushing and Chipping: Large bushes are put into a ‘wood chipper’ machine and turned into smaller pieces. It is then converted into fine powder or sawdust through the ‘Hammer Mill’.
4. Pelletisation: This is the most important step. The pellet is passed through the moulds (dyes) of the ‘pellet mill’ at high pressure. Due to high temperature and pressure, the pellet  compresses and takes the form of a hard, shiny and cylindrical pellet.
5. Cooling & Packing: Pellets are heated when leaving the machine. These  are cooled in a ‘pellet cooler’ and then packed in sacks to protect them from moisture.

Technical Specifications

The characteristics of a standard lantana pellet are the following:

• Size: 6 – 10mm Diameter
• Humidity: < 10%
• Ash Content: 2 – 5% (much less than coal)
• Density: > 600 kg/m³ (easy to transport)

Environmental and Economic Benefits

 Coal Substitution:  The use of pellet in place of coal in industries (such as textiles, brick kilns, and power plants) reduces carbon emissions.

• Forest Conservation: Removing lantanas allows native plants and grasses to regrow in forests.
• Employment Generation:  Local people obtain employment through harvesting in rural areas.
• Cheaper energy: These pellets are economical and more efficient than coal.

Economic Benefits via Soil

• Reclamation of Wasteland: Land covered with lantana is of zero value to the farmer. After clearing it, the land is ready for cultivation of fodder  again, which increases the market price of the land.
• Compost saving: As removal of lantana returns the natural fertility  of the soil,  the cost of chemical fertiliser  is reduced in the crops grown later on.
• Benefits in animal husbandry: When lantana is removed, nutritious grass starts growing. This provides free and good fodder to the animals, which increases milk production and increases the income of the farmer.
•  Carbon Credits: If lantana is removed on a large scale and trees are planted instead,  in the future, one can also earn money from ‘carbon credits’ through Soil Carbon Sequestration.

Industrial Uses – Largest Market

In factories that require a large amount of heat, pellets are used instead of coal:

• Thermal Power Plant: Co-firing 5-10% biomass pellets with coal is now becoming mandatory to generate electricity.
• Textile and Textile Mills: Here it is used to operate boilers and in the manufacture of steam.
• Brick Kilns: As an alternative to coal for baking bricks.
• Food Processing Industry:  For manufacturing of steam in milk dairies, biscuit factories and sugar mills.
• Chemical and Pharma Company: For heating drugs and chemicals.

Commercial Uses

In cities and towns where larger machines are needed:

• Hotels and Dhabas: To operate tandoors, furnaces and large water heaters.
• Hospitals:  In large boilers for heating water and drying clothes (laundry).
• Community kitchens: Kitchen of a gurdwara or mid-day meal for cooking in large pots.

Domestic Uses

• Pellet stoves: There are special types of stoves for cooking in which very little smoke from pellets is emitted.
• Room Heaters: Pellets are burnt instead of wood to keep homes warm in colder areas.

Conclusion

The creation of biomass pellets from  Lantana  is an excellent example of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and  ‘Problem to Solution’. While this invasive weed was swallowing our forests, bio-diversity, and fertile land,  it has now become an inexhaustible source of clean energy through technology and innovation.

The project not only provides industries with a cheaper and greener alternative to coal but  also plays a revolutionary role in generating employment in rural areas, rejuvenating pastures for animal husbandry, and enhancing soil fertility.

Women’s health is not just a personal matter—it is a cornerstone of the well-being of families, communities, and nations. A healthy woman nurtures not only herself but also the people around her. As caregivers, decision-makers, and community builders, women shape families and influence the next generation. Investing in women’s health therefore goes far beyond individual well-being; it strengthens societies and contributes to healthier economies. A healthy woman is truly an asset to the nation.

Whether in a rural village or an urban city, the core responsibilities women carry are often similar. Women support families, nurture relationships, contribute to their communities, and balance multiple roles all at one time. Yet while caring for others, many women overlook their own well-being. Uplifting women’s health must therefore become the starting point of true empowerment.

A key aspect of this empowerment is preventive health, both at the individual and community level. At the individual level, preventive health means adopting healthy habits—regular physical activity such as yoga, walking, or sports; maintaining balanced nutrition; prioritizing menstrual hygiene; and undergoing timely health check-ups and screenings. Early detection of conditions such as anaemia, cervical cancer, or breast cancer can save lives and prevent long-term health complications.

At the community level, preventive health focuses on spreading awareness, improving health literacy, and creating support systems that encourage healthy lifestyles. When communities collectively prioritise prevention, they reduce disease burden, improve quality of life, and lower healthcare costs for families.

Organisations such as BAIF Development Research Foundation are actively strengthening preventive healthcare among rural and tribal women. Their work focuses on prevention and health promotion through initiatives that address anaemia, promote nutritional security, encourage sustainable menstrual hygiene practices, and facilitate cervical and breast cancer screenings for early detection. By increasing health literacy and access to basic healthcare services, these programs empower women to take charge of their health.

For many rural and tribal women, limited access to healthcare often leads to alarmingly high medical expenses which are beyond their capacity. Community-based preventive health programmes help reduce this financial burden while building healthier and more informed villages.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” reminds us that investing in women’s well-being today leads to stronger communities tomorrow. International Women’s Day can be more than a celebration—it can be a moment for reflection and self-growth. Each year should add something valuable to our lives. It is worth asking ourselves: What new strength, skill, or perspective have I gained this year?

Physical health grows when we keep our bodies active, while mental well-being strengthens when we nurture hobbies, build meaningful friendships, and engage in activities that bring joy and peace to the mind. Learning to celebrate small achievements, acknowledging personal progress, and setting new goals can transform this day into a milestone for personal growth.

The true spirit of women’s empowerment lies in growth, self-belief, and collective progress. When women measure their journey not against others, but against who they were yesterday, they build real confidence—and confidence turns aspirations into reality.

So let us not only celebrate International Women’s Day. Let us celebrate the journey of learning, growing, caring for ourselves, and supporting one another. Because when we give importance to women’s health—through prevention, awareness, and collective action—we truly gain stronger families, healthier communities, and a more resilient nation.

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer to spotlight the essential goals women play across agri-food systems from production to trade, while often going unrecognised. Women farmers are central to food security, nutrition, and economic resilience . It calls for collective action, increased investment, and mainstream gender equitable policies in agriculture. As farmers, agricultural workers, food processors, traders, entrepreneurs and community leaders, women play a central role in rural economies, natural resource management and food production – they make significant contributions to food security, nutrition and the well-being of families and communities . Globally, women are reported to make up around 43% of agricultural labour, yet they control only a small fraction of land and resources, and are often excluded from credit, technology, and markets. The International Year aims to shift this imbalance by making women’s contributions visible, amplifying their voices in policy, and strengthening women centred programmes.

The Indian context

In India, women are the backbone of agriculture, albeit they are seldom recognised as farmers in their own right. Official records often treat them as “dependents,” “family helpers,” or “casual labourers” because the legal and institutional framework links the identity of a “farmer” mainly to land ownership, which remains male dominated. This invisibility means women’s labour is undervalued, under paid, and excluded from many schemes and benefits. Farm women are also heavily concentrated in the most labour intensive, drudgerous tasks, whereas control of mechanisation and decision making around crops remains in the hands of men. They rarely own land or hold titles to farm assets, which limits their access to credit, insurance, and government schemes, even when they are the ones managing day to day cultivation. Therefore, priority action areas include: increasing women’s access to and control over productive resources; developing gender-sensitive value chains; investing in labour-saving technologies; and addressing gender issues in climate change adaptation and resilience building. For India, this year presents an opportunity to confront the structural gaps that keep farm women at the margins of decision making, land ownership, and income security.

Increasing Feminisation of agriculture in India

In India, agriculture employs about 80% of rural women , with higher shares in some states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. However, land ownership remains the most glaring inequality. As per the agricultural census, 2015-16, at the national level, only 14% of operational land holdings are owned by women, which amounts to 11% of the total land in the country. This gap reflects patriarchal inheritance practices and limited success of land reforms. The phenomenon of “feminisation of agriculture” is also evident with men migrating to cities or to non farm work. However, this feminisation is not inherently empowering; it often means women manage more work without greater control over income, technology, or policy space.

• Home | International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) 2026 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• https://www.fao.org/woman-farmer-2026/en

Although the majority of women are full time agricultural workers, yet they appear in records as “casual labourers” or “family helpers.” This invisibility directly translates into lower wages and weaker entitlements. Women are often paid less than men for the same tasks, and their work is not counted in household income. Their contributions—as seed savers, animal caretakers, and market linked producers—are treated as “natural” or “unskilled” rather than as skilled labour, which further entrenches economic dependence.

Women are disproportionately concentrated in the most physically demanding and time consuming tasks: transplanting paddy, weeding, harvesting, threshing, fetching water and fodder, and tending livestock and kitchen gardens. These activities are often back breaking, poorly compensated, and tied to seasonal spikes, yet they are rarely mechanised or supported by ergonomic tools. Women often work 10–12 hours a day in the fields, then perform household chores late into the night, with little rest or recognition. Mechanisation has largely favoured male dominated tasks like ploughing and sowing, while “women’s tasks” remain labour intensive, reinforcing patterns of drudgery instead of shared farm work.

Women’s exclusion as farmers and decision-makers limits their role in household and community decisions about cropping patterns, technology adoption, and market linkages. Men often control income from crops, while women bear responsibility for household food sufficiency and livestock, yet their insights are rarely considered into practice and policy dialogues.

In response to these challenges, the Government of India has introduced several schemes that explicitly target women farmers. Some of the schemes include Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) under DAY NRLM, which is aimed at improving the productivity and income of women farmers by promoting agriculture-based livelihood options. It provides women with technical training, financial support, and a better understanding of sustainable agriculture. Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), a component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, provides benefits for women, such as subsidised hiring or purchase of equipment that reduces drudgery. Another key initiative is the Namo Drone Didi scheme aiming to empower women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by equipping them with drone technology to provide agricultural services. This initiative is expected to generate an additional income of at least Rs. 1 lakh per year for each SHG, contributing to economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood generation.

BAIF’s Initiatives for Farm Women

Alongside government schemes, several NGOs and farmer movements have emerged as strong advocates for farm women empowerment. BAIF Development Research Foundation which has a long history and avowed commitment towards women as equal partners in fostering sustainable rural development. To this end, some of our programmes implemented in partnership with corporates have focussed exclusively on women farmers, like ‘Prerna: Empower Women Farmers as Change Makers in Agriculture’ wherein women farmers were given knowledge support through package of practices, access to mechanisation, and tractor driving. A similar initiative, ‘Sathi’ was also designed for women farmers in tribal areas, specific to their needs. BAIF also has a women-led farmer producer organisation (FPO) in Maharashtra is developing milk value chain. On-farm women entrepreneurs are also being nurtured through expert guidance, training, market linkages and finance, as required.
Through its initiatives, BAIF recognises women farmers as custodians of traditional seeds and indigenous knowledge, helping conserve agrobiodiversity. Women participants are also championed as catalysts for digital and financial inclusion, enabling them to access banking services, government schemes, and digital platforms with confidence. BAIF also advances gender and technology inclusion, by means of programmes, such as, Drone Didis, eDost, and Sanvadini, bridging the digital divide and creating new livelihood opportunities while positioning rural women as leaders in sustainable and technology-driven development.

• NITI AAYOG, India | Rural Women: Key to New India’s Agrarian Revolution
• National Commission for Women

Conclusion

In summary, the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer provides a powerful frame to highlight both the scale of women’s contributions in Indian agriculture and the persistent gaps in recognition, assets, and agency. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge their vital role as well as the challenges they continue to face. Government policies such as Namo Drone Didi and MKSP, along with NGO supported initiatives, are beginning to shift the landscape, but much more is needed to ensure that farm women are not only seen but also empowered as equal partners in India’s food future.