Minister Assures Ethanol Benefits Will Reach Farmers Directly

A high‑level farmer delegation met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in Delhi on Tuesday, August 4, to press for a farmer‑centric ethanol framework. Delegates from Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and other regions stressed that ethanol production must translate into real income for cultivators rather than profit for intermediaries.

The group argued that when ethanol is derived from sugarcane, maize, rice or other crops, the resulting market will extend past traditional mandis to petrol pumps and the broader energy sector, creating a resilient sales channel for farmers.

Chauhan responded that the central government’s stance is clear: the ethanol programme should bolster national energy security while delivering tangible earnings uplift for growers. He committed to periodic monitoring of raw‑material costs and demand‑supply dynamics to ensure maize and other crop producers receive priority support.

During the dialogue, participants also raised the minimum support price, agricultural market reforms, and the upcoming National Agricultural Policy. The minister rejected misleading narratives on social media that ethanol harms vehicle performance, assuring that decisions will be grounded in scientific evidence.

He concluded by affirming that the agriculture ministry remains accessible, treating farmers as partners rather than opponents in policy formulation.