Centre aims to achieve 30% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030: ICAR-IIMR director

Stressing the need to increase maize productivity through scientific and cost-efficient methods, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research
(IIMR) director Dr HS Jat said on Wednesday that the Union government aims to achieve 30 per cent ethanol blending (E30) in petrol by 2030, in which maize is emerging as a major feedstock.

“India needs to achieve 65-70 million tonnes of maize production at a growth rate of 8-9 per cent every year to achieve the E30 mission by 2030. High productivity hybrids and mechanisation are necessary for this,” Jat said after inaugurating a three-day training-cum-workshop on ‘Strengthening field implementation for maize-based bioethanol and catchment development’ organised at ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana, under the project ‘Increasing maize production in catchment areas of ethanol industries’.

Jat stressed the need for field-based innovations and increased farmer participation in this direction.

A total of 27 field personnel from the project working in 78 districts across 15 states of the country attended the event, the institute, in
a statement, said.

The participants shared the progress made in their respective areas, including successful field interventions, increased farmer participation, and dissemination of improved maize production technologies.

Highlighting the objectives of the workshop, principal investigator for maize Dr SL Jat said, “The main goal of the project is to provide
stable raw material for ethanol production through improving maize productivity.” He talked about promoting coordination and
experience-sharing between regional scientists and field staff.

About 380 liters of ethanol can be obtained per tonne from maize, making it a viable option for ethanol production along with sugarcane, the institute said.

The institute said the total area under maize in India in 2023-24 was about 10.5 million hectares, while the average productivity has
reached 3.1 tonnes per hectare. The use of maize is no longer limited to animal feed and industry, but is emerging as an alternative crop for ethanol production. About 380 litres of ethanol can be obtained per tonne from maize, making it a viable option for ethanol production along with sugarcane.

This article has been republished from The Indian Express.