Lok Sabha Question No. 340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Diversion of Rice Procured for Food Security for Ethanol Production
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED OUESTION NO. 34O

## TO BE ANSWERED  ON 2OrhJULY, 2O2t

## DIVERSION OF RIGE PROGURED FOR FOOD SEGURITY FOR ETHANOL PRODUGTION

## 34O. SHRI V.K.SRIEEKANDAN:

Will the llllinister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIG DtsTRtBUTloN  3lrsfral arr&, urc-+ gk srd-dam Fffl{or d'* be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government  has allocated 78,OOO tonnes of rice procured for food security purposes  to be diverted to ethanol production instead at a subsidised  rate of Rs.20 per kg, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government had committed about three lakh tonnes of
- rice procured  by the Food Corporation  of lndia for ethanol production, if sot the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government aims to increase the blending levels to 8.5olo in the current year, if so, the details thereofif

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTIOT{ (sADHVr NIRAHJAN JYOTI)

(a) & (b):  lndia imports  about 85o/o of its crude oil requirement. Domestic bio.fuels  like ethanol reduce the nationts dependenee  on imported  fossil fuels; in addition its use reduces vehicular pollutionr increases  farmetst income, brings new investment  opportunity an rural areas thereby helping to achieve goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Ethanol is  being produced  mainly from molasses/sugarcane  and damaged food-grains; but availability  of these feedstocks as well as ethanot production capacity is not suflicient to achieve blending talget fixed by the Government.  Therefore, with a view to increase production of fuel grade ethanot for blending  with petrol, Government is encouraging distilleries to produce  ethanol from surplus rice available with FCI; and maize.

The FCI rice is sufficient in stock for food security purposes and it will continue to remaln robust as procurement of paddy/rice at Minimum Support Price (lrtSP) continues at  expected levets to  meet Publlc Distribution  System (PDS) requirement.  For the period  of Decembe/2o2G Novembey'2ozlt 78844 MT of FGI rice has been allocated to distilleries @ Rs. 2olkg ex-FGI godown  for production of ethanol out of which 22716 Ml has been lifted by distilleries lill 14.7.2021.

- (c):  Yes Sir. During the current Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2O2O'21lDec' Nov), the Government has targeted to achieve 8.5% blending of ethanol with petrol. Against the requirement of 332 crore litres ot ethanol for achieving  8.5% blending  with petrol, contracts have been signed for supplyang about 335 crore litres of ethanol by distilleries to Oi! Martetlng Gompanies (OMGs) for btending of ethano! with petrol; against which about {go crore litres of ethanot have been supplied to oMcs by distilleries  till 12.7.2021 thereby achleving 7.93% blending  which is the historically highest figure.