Ethanol Blending: Rising Tensions between Aatmanirbharta in Energy and Aatmanirbharta in Food
The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights an emerging tension between Aatmanirbharta in energy and Aatmanirbharta in food, as cropping patterns increasingly shift in favour of ethanol feedstock crop particularly maize at the cost of pulses and oilseeds.
Concerns Highlighted by the Economic Survey
Shift in Cropping Patterns
- Maize has rapidly emerged as a major feedstock for ethanol production.
- Between FY 2022 and FY 2025, maize production grew at a CAGR of 8.77%, while acreage expanded by 6.68%.
- In contrast, pulses recorded a decline in both area and output, and oilseeds registered only marginal annual acreage growth of 1.7%.
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