Yogesh K Porwar
“Direct Benefit to Farmers through Ethanol Companies”
Haveri:Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India will become self-reliant in eco-friendly fuel production and in the coming days, there will be a huge demand for ethanol companies.
A time will come when India will export green energy,” said former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai.
Speaking today after inaugurating the new unit of Prabhriti Ethanol Private Limited at Negaluru village in Haveri district on Friday, he said this factory is a boon to farmers.
Just as the sugar factories set up on the banks of the Krishna River had once benefitted farmers, today Haveri district has also received such an advantage.
About forty years ago, the elders had dreamed of a sugar factory in Sangur, but that did not benefit the farmers much.
In Haveri district—Hirekerur, Byadagi, Ranebennur, and Haveri taluks—nearly 90% of farmers grow maize.
Farmers require water, and by mixing sweat with water, they produce golden crops.To turn that crop into real wealth, such factories are essential.Now, five ethanol factories have been established in Haveri.
In the coming days, Haveri district will witness economic growth, thanks to technology and government policy.
The MP said in Brazil, ethanol technology was introduced long ago.Nearly 80 by-products are derived from sugarcane there, and the entire Brazilian economy thrives on sugarcane factories.
It came to India much later, but Karnataka was quick to adopt it. Former minister Murugesh Nirani is an expert in this field and has already begun production on a large scale.
Farmers are owners:
The former CM said this factory has been built by our farmers themselves using this technology.Eight young entrepreneurs have set it up.
The first such factory was started in Shiggaon constituency,and in the last four to five years,it has been running successfully.
Now,factories are coming up on the banks of the Varada and Tungabhadra rivers. Importantly, this factory is not dependent only on sugarcane—it produces ethanol using maize and rice as well.
Since farmers in this region grow maize in abundance, such factories will ensure they get a good price.Farmers will now get direct benefits.
Speaking on water issues, Bommai said during summer, for three to four months,Tungabhadra River cannot meet drinking water needs.For this, water has to be drawn from the Varada River via Bedti.
The Central Government has given in-principle approval for the Varada-Bedti river-link project.The State Government must take this forward.About 18 TMC of water will be available through this,solving the water crisis.They all must work together for this.
Agriculture-based Industries:
He said when he was Chief Minister and B.C. Patil was Agriculture Minister, they envisioned setting up more agriculture-based industries.
From Haveri to Raichur, nearly 7 lakh hectares must be brought under irrigation. Their goal was to establish about 100 agriculture-based industries.Today, Haveri has taken the first step.
This will greatly benefit farmers. In the coming days, vegetables and all types of produce should be processed and exported from here itself.
This will provide employment to youth.Ethanol production should grow massively,as it has immense potential.
“We must also thank U.S. President Donald Trump.He once told us not to import petrol from Russia and imposed heavy taxes on what we imported.
This prompted our Prime Minister Modi to introduce the Biofuel Policy. Initially, only 5% ethanol was blended with petrol; now it has increased to 10%.
Soon, India will reach a stage where 20% ethanol and 80% petrol are used. By 2026, companies like Toyota and Suzuki will be manufacturing cars that run on 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.
Prime Minister Modi has said India will become self-reliant in eco-friendly fuel production. In the future, ethanol companies will have very high demand.
Though Trump’s policy caused some short-term challenges, our Prime Minister has ensured that soon India will become self-reliant in bioenergy.
The time will come when India exports green energy, and Haveri should stand at the forefront of this achievement,”he said.
On this occasion,factory owners and former MLA Veerupakshappa Ballari,former Minister B.C.Patil, former MLAs Shivaraj Sajjan,Vadnal Rajanna,V.S.Patil, and industrialists B.C.Umapathi,Santosh Patil, and several other dignitaries were present.
