Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a rally in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, expressed the government's belief that farmers should be acknowledged not only as food producers but also as energy producers.
He announced that all vehicles would now run on ethanol produced by farmers. Gadkari stated that if a mixture of 60 percent ethanol and 40 percent electricity was utilized, fuel would be available at a cost of Rs 15 per litre, providing significant benefits to the general population.
He highlighted that this shift would lead to a reduction in pollution and imports, with the current import value of Rs 16 lakh crores being redirected to farmers' households through the cultivation of energy-producing crops for ethanol development.
In accordance with the revised National Policy on Biofuels (2018) and Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, India aims to achieve a blending rate of 20 percent ethanol in petrol (E20) by 2025-26.
As of June 2022, the country had already achieved an average ethanol blend rate of 10 percent in petrol, as reported by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has consistently emphasized the necessity of transitioning from hydrocarbon fuels to those containing ethanol. He also outlined the government's efforts to incorporate ethanol into agricultural and construction machinery.
Gadkari has frequently stated that this transition would decrease India's dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhance farmers' income, and stimulate economic growth. By recognizing farmers as both food and energy producers, the government aims to tap into the potential of biofuels, particularly ethanol, as a sustainable and economically viable alternative to conventional fuels.
This shift aligns with the government's commitment to reducing pollution, promoting self-sufficiency, and empowering the agricultural community.
