Lok Sabha Question No. 2961 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Impact of Food due to Crop Diversion towards Ethanol Blending Programme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2961

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17Ttl DECEMBER, 2025

## IMPACT OF FOOD DUE TO CROP DIVERSION TOWARDS ETHANOL BLENDING PROGRAMME

## 2961. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): the details and the quantity of rice allocated by Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ethanol production since 2024-25 ;
- (b): whether any Public Distribution  System (PDS) rice has been diverted for  ethanol production and if so, the details thereof;
- (c): the details and the quantity  of  maize allocated for  ethanol production and its impact on feed availability in the poultry  sector;
- (d): whether an inter-ministerial review mechanism exists to  assess the social and economic impacts of foodgrain diversion and if  so, the details thereof; and
- (e): the details of  the measures taken by the Government to mitigate  resultant food  or feed security risks?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b): The quantity of FCI rice allocated to ethanol distilleries for production of ethanol and quantity of  FCI  rice  lifted  by  ethanol distilleries  for  Ethanol Supply Year (ESY)  2024-25 and ESY 2025-26 are given  as under:

| Ethanol Supply Year (ESY)   |   Allocated Quantity of FCI rice (in LMT) | Quantity of FCI rice lifted by distilleries (in LMT)   |
|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 2024-25                     |                                        52 | 31.83                                                  |
| 2025-26                     |                                        52 | 4.58 (upto 11.12.2025)                                 |

The Food Corporation of  India  (FCI), after maintaining buffer  stocks and making provision for  meeting the  requirements of  the  Targeted PDS  and  Other  Welfare Schemes (OWS), sells only excess  stocks out of Central Pool under Open  Market Sale  Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS (D)]. The accumulated surplus stock of rice is allocated by FCI as feedstock for production of ethanol.

## (c): The quantity of Maize utilized/  to be utilized  as per supply/allocation of maize based ethanol during  ESY  2024-25 and ESY  2025-26 is as under:

| Ethanol Supply Year (ES Y) (Nov-Oct)   |   Supply / Allocation of Maize based ethanol (in cr. litres) |   Quantity of Maize utilized/ to be utilized (in LMT) |
|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 2024-25                                |                                                        477.8 |                                                125.75 |
| 2025-26                                |                                                        478   |                                                125.78 |

As  per  the  final estimates  of production of foodgrains for the  year  2024-25, production of Maize has increased substantially to about 434 LMT.  The quantity of Maize is  sufficient to  cater the demand of  ethanol production, poultry  and other purposes. To maintain feed availability, the poultry feed industry is also adopting other domestically available ingredients such as Rice bran, Broken Rice, Bajra and Wheat offal.

(d)  &  (e): The  Government  accords the  highest priority to  food  security  in  the  country. Department of Food &  Public Distribution regularly monitors/reviews the availability of foodgrains in the country and maintains the buffer stock of wheat and rice. Surplus FCI rice is being used for  ethanol  production, only when available in excess after maintaining buffer stocks and making provision  for meeting the requirements of the Targeted PDS and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

Maize has emerged as the  biggest feedstock for ethanol production  and sufficient maize is  available in  the  country even after utilization  of  maize as a  feedstock for ethanol production.

Government is  conducting study  for feasibility of  sweet  sorghum  as  an  alternate feedstock for production of ethanol to diversify the feedstock base for ethanol production.

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