Farmers support Ethanol, say it will boost income

Farmer leaders from across the country have expressed strong support for the expansion of ethanol production, describing it as a major opportunity to boost farm incomes and strengthen India’s energy security, during a meeting with Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday. A delegation of the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), comprising representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and other states, held detailed discussions with the Minister on issues related to ethanol, farmers’ income, minimum support price (MSP), agricultural markets and the proposed National Agriculture Policy.
The farmer leaders said they support ethanol production provided the policy remains farmer-centric and ensures that the benefits reach cultivators directly rather than intermediaries or companies. They described ethanol as a new opportunity for farming, stating that crops such as sugarcane, maize and rice could find an additional market beyond traditional agricultural mandis by supplying the country’s fuel and energy sector. According to the delegation, expanding ethanol production would create more buyers for agricultural produce, improve price realisation for farmers and reduce problems related to storage and crop spoilage. The leaders emphasised that they are not opposed to ethanol but want a policy that guarantees fair prices for feedstock crops and safeguards farmers’ interests.
The delegation also raised concerns over misinformation about ethanol circulating on social media and other platforms. Farmer representatives urged the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to work with farmer organisations to spread factual information about ethanol, including its benefits for agriculture and its role in encouraging diversification from water-intensive crops to more drought-tolerant alternatives. They suggested using digital content, short videos and grassroots awareness campaigns to address misconceptions, particularly among young farmers.
Responding to the suggestions, Chouhan said the government is committed to ensuring that the benefits of the ethanol programme reach the entire value chain, with farmers receiving the largest share. He described farmers as partners in policymaking and reiterated that the doors of Krishi Bhavan are always open to them. Chouhan said ethanol has the potential to strengthen both the country’s energy security and farmers’ incomes. He assured the delegation that the government would carefully consider farmers’ views while reviewing policies related to ethanol and would work to maintain a balance between crop prices, demand and the interests of farmers cultivating maize, rice, sugarcane and other feedstock crops. The Minister also said the government would rely on scientific studies and technical evidence to counter misinformation surrounding ethanol and would continue engaging with farmer organisations to promote fact-based discussions on the subject.