TNAU & ICAR Sugarcane Breeding Institute-Coimbatore Develops New Sugarcane Variety

Because of the ethanol programme, sugar mills are progressively coming out of the red and are able to settle pending farmer dues by relying on the most productive sugarcane types. Official sources claimed that the cooperative sugar mills had placed orders for 140 tonnes of CO 14012 (Avani) variety and 75 tonnes of CO 11015 (Atulya) variety, in addition to the almost 375 tonnes of cane seeds sold so far.

According to TNAU Vice-Chancellor V. Geethalakshmi, the non-flowering 'punnagai' cultivar preferred by farmers yields up to 160 tonnes per acre. In the last six years, ethanol supplier remuneration has more than doubled, resulting in a significant increase in farmers' income. According to industry observers, an eight-fold increase in procurement in the last six years, as well as a nearly 2.5-fold increase in procurement price, has resulted in a large boost in farmer income.

Drought resistance, resistance to red rot disease, high productivity of up to 160 tonnes per hectare, high ratooning ability, and the crop's non-flowering nature made the 'punnagai' variety a preferred choice for cooperative sugar mills, according to G. Hemaprabha, Director, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore.

In keeping with its goals of energy security, climate change mitigation, and rural economic development, the Central Government has launched a series of reforms to increase ethanol consumption in the country. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme established an indicative aim of 20% ethanol blending in gasoline by 2030.

Following that, in 2020, 'The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' (CCEA) advanced the target year for reaching 20% ethanol blending in gasoline to 2025. Policymakers have emphasised the good effects of these historic reforms not just on the country's economy, but also on farmer income.

In order to achieve its aims of energy security, climate change mitigation, and rural economic development, the Central Government has launched a series of reforms to increase ethanol consumption in the country. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program established an approximate aim of 20% ethanol blending in gasoline by 2030.

Following that, the target year for reaching 20% ethanol blending in gasoline was also pushed back to 2025 by 'The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' (CCEA) in 2020. Policymakers have highlighted the favourable effects of these historic reforms not just on the country's economy, but also on farmer income.

Ethanol procurement grew nearly eightfold to 322 crore litres in 2020-21, up from 38 crore litres in 2013-14. Capabilities for ethanol distillation have increased.