"E20 eased burden of millers": Amritsar Rice Millers Association
Amritsar, August 2
Highlighting the economic benefits of the government's E20 initiative, Rajinder Salwan, President of the Amritsar Rice Millers Association, on Sunday stated that the move is significantly boosting the income of farmers in Punjab and easing the operational burden on millers.
Speaking to ANI, Salwan said, "It (E20 blending) has helped farmers and eased the burden of millers."
Explaining how the blending program supports the state's agricultural economy, Salwan noted that paddy serves as the primary "investment crop" for farmers in Punjab.
"Punjab sees major paddy cultivation. People in Punjab consume less paddy. As far as paddy cultivation is concerned, about 5 kgs of seed is sown in 1 acre of land. In the case of wheat, about 50 kg of seed is sown. So, this is a saving for farmers," Salwan said.
He further added, "Farmers keep wheat for personal consumption. While almost the whole of paddy goes to market for sale, farmers make their investment through paddy crop -- purchasing a tractor, building a house or making purchases."
The E20 blending program is part of the central government's strategy to reduce fuel imports and provide a stable market for surplus food grains. By diverting excess paddy and broken rice toward ethanol production, the initiative ensures that farmers receive timely payments and a consistent demand for their produce.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that he would lead a march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence on August 4, escalating his campaign against the government's E20 policy. Kejriwal put forward three demands on the issue to the Centre: there should be an option for E20 and pure petrol at petrol pumps, E20 should be cheaper than pure petrol, and the price of petrol should be less than 84 rupees/litre.
The march would be the latest escalation in AAP's campaign against the Centre's E20 fuel policy.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the government thinking about our farmers, but the AAP vs BJP politics on this issue is getting too much. First it was stubble burning, now it's ethanol. Why can't both parties work together for the welfare of Punjab? The farmers need stability, not political drama.
The point about paddy being an investment crop is spot-on! In my village, every farmer's dream is to buy a tractor or build a pucca house from paddy earnings. E20 has indeed added stability to their income. However, I hope the government also focuses on crop diversification - Punjab's groundwater is depleting fast. 🤔
Having both E20 and pure petrol options at pumps seems fair. Not everyone's vehicle is compatible with E20, especially older models. And yes, E20 should definitely be cheaper if the government wants to promote it. But let's give credit where it's due - this is a solid step towards reducing our oil import bill.
As someone who has seen both Indian and Western agricultural policies, this is a smart move. The US and Brazil have been doing ethanol blending for decades. India catching up on this front is great for energy security. The key is to ensure it doesn't lead to food inflation. Let's hope the government manages that balance well.
I appreciate the initiative but what about the environmental impact? Diverting more paddy for ethanol might encourage even more water-intensive cultivation in Punjab. We need a holistic approach that considers both farmer welfare and sustainable agriculture. Otherwise, we're just trading one problem for
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