New Delhi: According to the news report published in The Hindu BusinessLine, experts have emphasized the need for increased acreage dedicated to corn cultivation in order to achieve the ambitious target of blending 20 percent ethanol with petrol by 2025. The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) has suggested expanding the area of corn cultivation as the most viable solution. Gyanendra Shukla, head of the committee on corn at FSII, emphasized the necessity of implementing a comprehensive policy on corn in medium to long term.
With corn being cultivated across more than 10 million hectares, Shukla pointed out the potential impact of increasing the average yield from the current 3 tons per hectare to 4 tons per hectare, stating that it could significantly raise the total production. He further recommended that the government should procure corn if there is glut, similar to rice and wheat, to provide price support for farmers and encourage them to switch to corn cultivation.
Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja recently stressed the need to increase corn production from the current 33-34 million tonnes to 44-45 million tonnes over the next five years to meet the rising demand for ethanol and the poultry industry.
According to the second advance estimates, maize production in the 2022-23 crop year is projected to reach 34.61 million tonnes, up from 33.73 million tonnes in the previous year.
Recognizing the limitations of relying solely on sugarcane for ethanol production, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra highlighted the importance of half of the ethanol requirement coming from grain-based plants. Chopra further emphasized that the current use of rice as a feedstock for ethanol production is not sustainable, prompting a shift in focus to corn.
India currently has a production capacity of 1,082 crore litres of ethanol, including both molasses-based and grain-based plants (including those under construction). Out of this capacity, 723 crore litres are produced by molasses-based units, while 359 crore litres come from grain-based plants.
To meet the 20 percent blending target, approximately 1,016 crore litres of ethanol would be required, along with an additional 334 crore litres needed for other purposes. This necessitates an estimated ethanol production capacity of around 1,700 crore litres, assuming plants operate at 80 percent efficiency.
The government’s proactive measures and support in promoting corn cultivation and ethanol production are crucial for achieving the country’s ethanol blending goals and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
