India becomes the world’s third largest ethanol producer-consumer country, sugarcane cultivation increased by 18 percent
New Delhi| Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that due to policy changes, India has become the third largest ethanol producer and consumer country in the world. He was addressing the India Sugar and Bioenergy Conference. He said that the Central Government has launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme. In this, many steps have been taken to increase ethanol production capacity. Sugar mills have received the highest revenue from ethanol sales in the last 10 years.
Joshi said, the use of ethanol blended petrol is reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby creating more investment opportunities. New distilleries have been established in rural areas. Due to this, direct and indirect employment generation is also increasing in the country. The Union Minister said that the Central Government is committed to a strong, sustainable sugar industry. It is also a strong economic pillar for the country, it is also promoting renewable energy in the country.
Joshi said that the area under sugarcane cultivation has increased by about 18 per cent in the last 10 years, while sugarcane production has increased by 40 per cent. The central government implemented MSP for sugar in 2018 to protect the interests of farmers and the sugar industry. He said that out of Rs 1.14 lakh crore, about 99 per cent of the sugarcane price has been paid to the farmers with the support of the industry. With synergy between agriculture and green energy, India will achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070.
