UP to double maize production by 2027

To bolster agricultural productivity and boost rural income, Uttar Pradesh is targetting to double maize production by 2027. The goal is to elevate maize output to 2.73 million tonnes (MT) by expanding both the cultivation area and the yield per hectare. The future of maize production is further bolstered by its potential in ethanol production.

Ethanol used in petrol now more from maize, damaged foodgrains

This is the first time that the contribution of grains to India’s ethanol production has surpassed 50% — from 27.1% in 2022-23, 16.7% in 2021-22, 13.6% in 2020-21, 9.2% in 2019-20, 5% in 2018-19 and zero in 2017-18. In the current supply year (November 2023-October 2024), sugar mills and distilleries supplied 401 crore litres of

Procuring maize at MSP would be wrong policy

It seems that the government has realised that allocating rice for ethanol from central pool stocks of the Food Corporation of India is not a good policy choice. The rice stock on 1 January 2024 was 51.64 million tonnes. This includes 18.17 mt rice already in stock and 33.47 mt rice, which was yet to

Diverting maize for ethanol will increase poultry feed prices

The poultry industry anticipates that 10-20 percent of maize could be used for ethanol production, which would increase the demand-supply gap further, causing a spike in maize prices. The Indian poultry sector expects feed prices to spurt, crimping its margins, if the Centre goes ahead with its plan to divert maize for ethanol production, as

Poultry industry urges govt to allow maize imports

With ethanol-makers competing strongly for maize supplies, the poultry industry, which depends heavily on maize for its feed requirements, has asked the Union Government to allow it to import genetically modified maize and soyameal. It also wanted the government to bring in high-yielding GM seeds to increase productivity in the country. The country is using

Maize to be procured by govt at MSP to Meet biofuel requirements

The Indian government has approved a plan to purchase maize at federally fixed minimum support prices (MSP) and increase its production to meet the country’s growing demand for biofuels. Maize, also known as corn, is crucial for ethanol production, which is blended with petrol, and serves as a significant component in poultry feed. This strategic

First ethanol plant in Chhattisgarh to come up soon

Chhattisgarh’s first ethanol plant based on maize processing to come up at tribal-affected Kokodi in Kondagaon district. The processing plant is being built at a cost of Rs 140 crore. This is the first plant being set up in the cooperative sector. More than 45000 farmers will be directly benefited and a target is set

EBP plant to be set up in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu will soon hop on the Ethanol Based Petrol (EBP) bandwagon, as the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the construction of the State’s first grain-based ethanol plant in Virudhunagar. As per the EAC report, the new distillery will be set up by a private firm

NSI, IIMR to promote ethanol production from maize

National Sugar Institute (NSI), Kanpur and ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, (IIMR) Ludhiana, will work jointly to promote production of ethanol from maize. Maize is considered an important raw material for producing ethanol. Out of the total requirement of 1016 crore litre of ethanol for blending in petrol by 2025, about 466 crore litre is