Punjab plan to produce ethanol from maize

To boost maize cultivation in the state, the Punjab State Farmer’s Commission, an advisory body on agricultural issues, is in talks with private players to set up an integrated ethanol plant based on maize crop in Punjab, India. “We are holding talks with two to three private companies for setting up a plant for producing ethanol out of maize with the intention of giving an impetus to the cultivation of this crop in the state,” Punjab State Farmer’s Commission Marketing Economist P. S. Rangi said. Based on the feasibility study conducted on the issue of diversification from rice to maize for producing ethanol by Delhi-based Techno Economic Research Institute, the commission has proposed building an ethanol plant with an annual capacity of 30 million liters, which will require an investment of Rs80 crores (US$20.4 million) (September 27, 2007)