Lok Sabha Question No. 50 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Diversion of Foodgrains for Ethanol
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan

## i,[NtsTRY  OF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtc  DISTRIBUTTON

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION NO.sO TO BE AilSWERED ON lsr DEGEMBER,2O21

## OIVERSION OF FOODGRAINS  FOR ETHANOL

## *5O.  SHRI NATAITAJAN  P.R.:

Will the Minister of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION  3ctffiI errd, arc-a gt{ gr{qfr{,  fut{ur d* be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government  had taken any decision to increase the divercion of foodgrains  and sugarcane for ethanol production by rcducing per eapita foodgralns  availabilit$
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether detailed discussions have been undeftaken with the stakeholders  and food safety experts on the implications  of this increase  in the magnitude of hunge4
- (d)  if so, the steps taken for foodgrains stock availability as per the norms; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefoP

ANSWE R MINISTER OF GOMMERGE & INDUSTRY, COilSUMERAFFATRS,  FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  AND TEXTILES (sHRr PTYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e): A statement  is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO lN REPLY To PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE STARRED OUESTION NO.sO DUE FOR AT{SWER ON O{.{2.2O2I III THE LOK SABHA.

(a)  to (c): Ethanol Blended with  Petrol (EBP) Programme  was launched with multifarious obiective  of increasing income of farmers, reduction in import of crude oil, reduction in pollution  etc. The Government has notified the J{ataona! Bio-fuel Policy, 2O{8 which inter-alia allows production of ethanol from sugarcane  iuice,  sugar containing  materials like sugar beet, sweet sorghum, starch containing material like cornr Gassavat damaged food-grains  like wheat, broken rice etc.

Besides, the policy also allows use of surplus food-grains for production of ethanol  under Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme with the approval of National Bio-fue! Coordination Gommittee (NBCC) comprising of representatives  from Ministry of Petroleum  & l{atural Gast Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department  of Food & Publlc Distribution, l{lTI Aayog etc. The NBCC in  yean 2O2Ot after holding discussions with various  stakeholders  and after taking into consideration the sufficient availability of  rice and maize in  the  country, has recommended the production  of ethanol from rice available  wath Food Gorporation  of lndia (FGl) and from maize for blending  with petrol under EBP Programme, which were accepted by the Government. There as suflicient availability of food-grains  in the country and in no way food'

security or per capita availability  of food{rains  has been compressed.

(d): The stocking nor?n as on O'l't October,  2021 lor rice is {02.50 LMT and for wheat is 205.2 LMT; Against thisn the total availability of rice with FGt (including state agencies)  is 253.26 LMT and wheat is 468.52 LMT. Annua!  procurement  of rice and wheat is also more than the requirement  of food-grains  under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)' Other lYelfare  Schemes (OWS) and strategic reserYe being maintained  for food security.

(e): Does not arise.