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Ethanol can help raise farmers' income: Gadkari

economictimes.indiatimes.com · 13h · first reportShare

Bhopal: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the use of ethanol could help raise farmers' income and reduce India's dependence on petroleum imports, as he called for wider adoption of alternative fuels and cleaner public transport.He was addressing a programme here after launching Madhya Pradesh's new public bus service with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.Also read: India craves a sweet fix for crude addiction. Can it work?"Today, the farmer is not only our 'anna data' (food provider) but also our 'urja data' (energy provider)," Gadkari said.Ethanol production has already benefited farmers, the Road Transport and Highways Minister said, citing the increase in maize prices from around Rs 1,200 per quintal to Rs 2,600 per quintal after ethanol production began."This is the meaning of swadeshi, self-reliance and independence," he said.The minister said flex-fuel engines, capable of running on 100 per cent ethanol, were being developed and vehicles using this technology would be introdu