Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is gearing up to produce ethanol from maize instead of sugarcane. The agriculture department and sugar mill operators have begun discussions to identify maize cultivation areas in every sugar mill region, reports Amar Ujala.
The state plans to increase maize cultivation by 200,000 hectares over the next four years. To support this initiative, farmers will receive subsidies on equipment related to maize cultivation.
Equipment related to maize development will be provided to farmers at subsidized rates. Currently, around 15 companies in the state produce ethanol, and there are plans to increase this number.
The central government has set a target of blending 20% ethanol in petrol. Ethanol can be produced from sugarcane, rice, maize and other feedstocks. In Uttar Pradesh, maize is grown during the Kharif, Zaid, and Rabi seasons. This is why the Uttar Pradesh government has launched the Rapid Maize Development Scheme, allocating ₹27.68 crores for it in the 2024-25 budget.
Currently, maize is sown on around 830,000 hectares in the state. The plan is to increase the cultivation area by 200,000 hectares and boost production. The central government has also initiated a project called “Increasing Maize Production in the Watershed Areas of Ethanol Industries,” which is being implemented by the Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR). Under this project, 15 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, have been selected.
Jitendra Singh Tomar, Director of Agriculture, said, efforts to produce ethanol from maize in the state have already begun. So far, about 90% of maize has been sown during the Kharif season. Discussions with sugar mill operators have also been completed. Preparations are being made to start purchasing maize for ethanol production as soon as the crop is harvested.
