The Grain Ethanol Manufacturers’ Association (GEMA) representing the grain-based ethanol plants in the country, has initiated an awareness campaign “Makka Ugao” to focus on increasing maize production in the country. The Government has given special attention to maize production in the country, which will be used as a feedstock to push for higher ethanol production from grain-based ethanol plants.
The Association says the main aim of the campaign is to create awareness for its 70+ members producing ethanol from foodgrain. One of the driving instruments of the campaign includes digital content creation which is being put up on social media channels- YouTube, Instagram etc. As a part of the campaign, member factories are being requested to float newspaper advertisements and banners etc.
GEMA’s Joint Secretary, Arushi Jain said that member factories will be working with the channel partners to propagate the campaign. “GEMA has urged members to team up with seed companies, who have expertise in this. They will involve farmers and work with them closely to fuel this campaign. Programmes like ‘Nukkad’ workshops are being planned in the villages”, Jain added.
The campaign will include agronomists, fertiliser/pesticide companies, warehousing and logistics service providers, trade networks and consumers.
“Maize is a part of the Kharif basket which is sown predominantly during May and June every year. So the campaigning has been kickstarted now to draw focus on the 2024 sowing season. However, this will be a year-round campaign. Once maize production is increased, the programme will include research and development of higher yielding varieties of maize” she said.
Maize accounts for merely 10% of total food grain production in the country. Along with being a quality feed for animals, maize is an important raw material to thousands of industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc.
“Maize is an essential crop. It is a rain-fed crop which requires less groundwater during cultivation. It is also an essential industrial crop, which will be a source of ethanol production as well. Currently, maize is selling at a higher MSP, handsomely rewarding the farmer. For several such reasons, we feel maize production should grow manifolds and hence this campaign” Jain concludes.
