Biofuels Pivotal for Rural Prosperity and Energy Security: Sanjeev Chopra

Government to Allocate 50 Lakh Tones of Fortified Rice for Ethanol Production

New Delhi : Biofuels must be seen not merely as a means to curb carbon emissions in the transport sector, but as a crucial pathway to rural prosperity, agricultural value enhancement, and national energy security, said Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Food and Public Distribution.

Addressing a session at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) conference, Chopra underlined that ethanol could reduce India’s oil import dependence, increase rural incomes, and complement the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

“Ethanol and EVs should not be treated as competing technologies. They are complementary solutions that can evolve together, meeting consumer needs, producer capabilities, and environmental objectives. It is not ‘either-or’,” he stressed.

Global Success Models for India

Citing international experiences, Chopra presented successful case studies that could serve as a roadmap for India:

• Brazil: Blending up to 27% sugarcane-based ethanol with petrol has reduced oil imports, increased rural incomes, and created a robust bioenergy industry.
• United States: Blending nearly 10% corn-based ethanol has supported the farm sector while reducing transport emissions.
• Indonesia: Mandating B35 biodiesel blending with palm oil has reduced imports and benefitted palm-oil farmers.

Expanding and Diversifying Feedstock

The government is implementing measures to ensure a sustainable and diverse ethanol feedstock base, which include:

• Broken Rice Utilisation: From October 2025, the permissible percentage of broken rice in central procurement will be reduced, freeing up 50 lakh tonnes of fortified rice in five states for ethanol production, without affecting food security.
• Maize Output Boost: Maize production has risen from 34 million tonnes to an expected 42.5 million tonnes within two years, driven by high-yield varieties and better post-harvest practices.
• Sweet Sorghum Trials: Tests at the National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, indicate that sweet sorghum can be processed in sugar mills without major equipment changes. Cultivated alongside sugarcane, it could meet up to 10% of India’s ethanol needs.

Linking Biofuels to Rural Economy and Energy Resilience

Chopra highlighted that creating additional markets for crops such as sugarcane, rice, maize, and sorghum will stabilise farm incomes, reduce surplus stocks, and cut oil import dependency.

He further noted that a diversified energy portfolio could insulate the country from vulnerabilities in global supply chains of critical materials like lithium and semiconductors, which are essential for EV manufacturing.

“A multi-pronged energy strategy strengthens both economic and environmental resilience,” he added.

Concluding his address, Chopra expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the biofuel sector:

“Together, we can convert surplus production into sustainable energy, rural growth into national resilience, and agricultural value into lasting prosperity.”