Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Ethanol Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 304

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## ETHANOL PRODUCTION

## 304. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  surveyed  the  potential  of  maize  production  and  its  by products for replacement of the cultivable area of paddy and wheat in the country which can be utilised for production of ethanol;
- (b) if  so,  the  details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to promote the by-product like ethanol; and
- (c) the action proposed to be taken by the Government to promote the production of ethanol from maize as sole crop?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (c): Paddy, wheat and maize are the major foodgrain crops and contribute substantial share  in  overall  food  basket  of  the  country.    Government  of  India  ensure  to  increase  the production  and  productivity  of  all  foodgrain  crops  including  maize  for  multi  purpose  utility.  In addition,  maize  is  used  as  food,  feed  and  fodder  and  also  serves  as  source  of  basic  raw material for various industrial products, such as starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food, sweeteners,  cosmetics,  bio-fuel,  etc.    Maize  is  grown  in  most  of  the  states  of  the  country. Looking  to  the  nutritious  value  and  potentiality  of  maize,  Government  of  India  has  been promoting  the  maize  cultivation  to  ensure  its  enhanced  production  and  productivity  through National Food Security Mission - Coarse Cereals.  Under this programme, assistance is being provided to the farmers for organizing demonstrations on improved production technologies and distribution of seed of high yielding varieties/hybrids.

In  order  to  diversify  water  guzzling  crop  paddy,  Government  of  India  is  already implementing  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP)  in  the  states  of  Punjab,  Haryana  and Western Uttar Pradesh as a Sub-Scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) since 201314 to divert the area to alternate crops including maize.

Government of India has approved National Policy on Biofuel in 2018 which include the scope  of  raw  material  for  ethanol  production  by  allowing  use  of  sugarcane  juice,  sugar containing  materials  like  sugar  beet,  sweet  sorghum,  starch  containing  materials  like  corn, cassava,  damaged  foodgrains  like  wheat,  broken  rice,  rotten  potatoes,  unfit  for  humans consumption  for  ethanol  production.    Besides,  the  policy  allows  use  of  surplus  foodgrains including maize for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel  Coordination  Committee  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Minister  of  Petroleum  &  Natural Gas.  However, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare has not made any strategy in respect of National Biofuel Policy, 2018.

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