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Gadkari: Ethanol Blending Diversifies Agriculture, Boosts Farmer Income

News18•01-10-2026, 15:30

•Union Minister Nitin Gadkari asserts ethanol blending with petrol diversifies the agriculture sector, transforming farmers into "urja data" (energy producers).
•Gadkari debunks claims of vehicle damage from ethanol-blended fuel, citing 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers running on it since 2022 without complaints.
•He highlights that leading automobile brands have successfully tested vehicles on 100% ethanol, dismissing concerns from those with "vested interests."
•The minister notes that the decision to make ethanol from corn has generated an additional Rs 45,000 crore for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
•Gadkari emphasizes the Centre's futuristic vision, including making aviation fuel from rice straw, and sees immense potential for Bihar in innovation, technology, and research.

Making ethanol out of corn has resulted in additional earnings of up to Rs 45,000 crore for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Gadkari noted that since 2022, 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers have run on petrol mixed with ethanol without any damage complaints.

Gadkari highlighted that the Centre has been working with a futuristic vision, successfully making aviation fuel out of rice straw.