Sugar sector concerns will be addressed soon: Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari assured Maharashtra’s sugar industry that key concerns will be addressed soon. He urged mills to diversify into ethanol, Bio-CNG, organic fertilizers and biofuels, promoting farmers as energy producers. Gadkari highlighted reducing fuel imports, boosting rural incomes, irrigation improvements and waste-to-wealth initiatives.
Pune: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday assured Maharashtra’s sugar industry that the Centre would soon address its key concerns, while calling for a major transformation of the sector through biofuels, bioenergy and value-added products.
Speaking at the Sugar & Bioenergy Conference organised by WISMA in Pune, Gadkari said a recent meeting had been held with concerned officials regarding issues affecting the sugar sector and a decision would be taken shortly.
“All the expectations of the sugar sector will be addressed. We have recently held discussions with the concerned authorities and a decision will be made soon,” he said.
Speaking on the sugar industry, Gadkari said the future sustainability of the sugar sector depends on diversification, as sugar production alone may no longer be sufficient to ensure profitability.
“Every sugar mill should focus on diversification and by-products. Only then will the sugar sector survive and flourish,” he said, adding that the industry must increasingly focus on ethanol, Bio-CNG, organic fertilisers and other renewable energy products.
The minister emphasized that Indian farmers must evolve from being merely food producers to becoming energy producers as well.
“Farmers are not only annadatas. They should become energy producers and even ‘Hydrogendatas’ by contributing to the production of biofuels and green energy,” Gadkari said.
Highlighting India’s energy-import burden, he noted that the country spends nearly ₹23 lakh crore annually on importing fossil fuels. Redirecting even a portion of that expenditure towards domestic biofuel production could significantly strengthen rural economies and improve farmers’ incomes, he said.
“If this money goes into farmers’ pockets instead of being spent on imports, it will empower rural India and make India economically stronger,” he added.
Gadkari said the sugar industry has a strategic role in India’s energy transition because of its ability to produce ethanol, compressed biogas (CBG), biofuels and other renewable energy products from sugarcane and its by-products.
He advocated greater utilisation of sugar industry residues such as press mud and spent wash for producing Bio-CNG and organic manure, describing waste-to-wealth initiatives as critical for the sector’s future growth.
The Union Minister also highlighted the potential of producing iso-butanol from sugarcane juice, saying the fuel could reduce India’s dependence on imported diesel. He called for the development of engines capable of operating on iso-butanol and urged Maharashtra to take the lead in advancing such technologies.
Gadkari further suggested that sugar mills should seek permission from the government to establish their own ethanol and Bio-CNG retail outlets, creating additional revenue streams and improving the financial viability of biofuel projects.
Turning to the challenges facing the sugar industry, Gadkari said the sector remains economically significant as it directly influences the livelihoods of farmers across 179 Lok Sabha constituencies. Strengthening the industry, therefore, is critical not only for agriculture but also for rural development and national economic growth.
He expressed concern over increasing migration from villages to cities and stressed that creating sustainable income opportunities in rural areas would be essential to reverse the trend.
The minister also pointed to persistent irrigation challenges in several regions, including Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha, and said improving water availability and agricultural productivity must remain a priority.
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Source : ChiniMandi
