18 Sept 2025
A three-day workshop on maize-based bioethanol and catchment development concluded recently at the ICAR–Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ladhowal, with scientists and field workers stressing the importance of scaling up maize production to support India’s energy transition.
Titled “Empowering Field Implementation for Maize-Based Bioethanol and Catchment Development”, the workshop brought together 27 field staff members from 78 districts across 15 states. Participants shared field-level experiences, highlighting progress in improved farming practices, greater farmer participation, and the adoption of new maize technologies.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. H.S. Jat, Director, ICAR-IIMR, underlined the urgent need to enhance maize productivity using scientific and cost-effective approaches. He noted that to achieve the government’s target of 30% ethanol blending in petrol (E30) by 2030, India will need 65–70 million tonnes of maize annually, requiring productivity growth of 8–9% per year. “This is possible only with high-yielding maize varieties and increased mechanisation,” Dr. Jat said.
The workshop was organised under the project “Enhancing Maize Production in the Catchment Areas of Ethanol Industries” and attended by co-principal investigator Dr. Ph. Romen Sharma, principal investigator Dr. S.L. Jat, and other IIMR scientists. Dr. S.L. Jat explained that the core objective is to ensure a steady supply of maize as a raw material for ethanol production, while also supporting sustainable agriculture.
Once primarily grown for animal feed and industrial use, maize is increasingly being recognised as a strategic crop for ethanol production. To support this shift, ICAR-IIMR has been promoting Kharif maize cultivation in Punjab as part of efforts toward crop diversification and regional ethanol feedstock availability. In the 2025 Kharif season, improved maize varieties were successfully demonstrated on 450 acres across Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and other districts.
The institute is also conducting training programmes and awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to transition from water-intensive crops like paddy to maize. Farmers are being made aware of maize-based systems that not only support ethanol and feed demand but also conserve groundwater and improve soil health.