The global tobacco industry faces mounting environmental challenges, particularly from deforestation and carbon emissions caused by traditional curing methods. Every year, over 11.4 million tonnes of wood are burned globally for tobacco curing—contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and forest degradation.
In a breakthrough move towards sustainability, OwnTechno has partnered with the ICAR–Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and deploy Electric Barn technology across India’s major tobacco-growing regions. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the curing process by eliminating the use of firewood, reducing carbon footprints, and ensuring high-quality cured leaves through precision control.
The Electric Barn replaces traditional wood-fired curing barns with an IoT-based electric system designed for precision, consistency, and sustainability.
The Electric Barn employs advanced IoT sensors and automation systems to regulate temperature, humidity, and airflow at every stage of the curing process. This ensures uniform heat distribution, consistent product quality, and zero fuelwood consumption—a monumental leap in clean technology for agriculture.
Each stage is digitally controlled to replicate and even improve upon the conditions of traditional curing—without environmental harm.
Converts leaf starch into natural sugars.
Maintains uniform yellow color across the leaf surface.
Stabilizes the desirable golden hue.
Removes surface moisture while locking in color.
Gradually extracts moisture from the lamina (leaf body).
Preserves the leaf’s flexibility and texture.
Final phase ensuring complete moisture removal from the midrib.
Enhances leaf strength and durability for long-term storage.
⏱ Total curing duration: ~4 days per batch
⚡ Energy consumption: 450–500 units (kWh) per batch
| Parameter | Traditional Barn | Electric Barn |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Source | Firewood (8–10 kg per kg leaf) | Electricity (Zero wood use) |
| Carbon Emission | High (CO₂, CH₄ release) | Near Zero |
| Curing Duration | 5–7 days | 4 days |
| Temperature Control | Manual | Automated (IoT-based) |
| Quality Consistency | Variable | Uniform |
| Maintenance Cost | High | Low |
By switching to Electric Barns, farmers can:
Reduce deforestation by avoiding wood usage.
Cut carbon emissions by nearly 100% from curing.
Improve curing efficiency and leaf quality.
Lower operational costs over time through automation and energy optimization.
Under this MoU, OwnTechno and ICAR–CTRI are collaborating to:
Develop and refine Electric Barn prototypes suited for Indian climates.
Train farmers in operation, maintenance, and safety protocols.
Scale up adoption through technology transfer and financial support models.
This partnership represents a key milestone in India’s journey towards eco-friendly agricultural practices, offering a replicable model for other curing-intensive crops worldwide.
The Electric Barn technology is more than just an innovation—it’s a commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and farmer empowerment. With the support of research institutions like ICAR–CTRI and forward-looking companies like OwnTechno, the tobacco industry can move toward a future where quality and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
Zero fuelwood and near-zero emissions curing.
450–500 kWh energy use per batch.
Four precision-controlled curing stages completed in ~4 days.
Backed by ICAR–CTRI for research and field deployment.
OwnTechno’s Electric Barn: the future of sustainable tobacco processing.