Indian Economy News

Mr. Piyush Goyal appreciated efforts of States and UTs at the National Conference of Food Ministers, and highlighted the need to work collectively to serve people

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce & Industry and Textiles, Mr. Piyush Goyal lauded the efforts of state and UT governments in buying and distributing foodgrains, and he urged all states and union territories to collaborate with the government of India in the spirit of cooperative federalism.

The portal, which was launched during the 'National Conference of Food Ministers of States/UTs,' intends to increase the production and utilisation of ethanol obtained from sugarcane in India. The conference, organised by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), brought together key players to examine various issues of foodgrain procurement, distribution, and policy reforms. While addressing the audience, Mr. Goyal emphasised the importance of renewable energy and the necessity for India to move to a cleaner and greener future.

With the opening of the sugar-ethanol portal, the government hopes to increase ethanol production and consumption as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Ethanol, which is created from sugarcane, can be combined with petrol to reduce dependency on imported crude oil while also contributing to a cleaner atmosphere.

During the meeting, the department emphasised the critical importance of procurement reforms in ensuring food security and stable prices for vital commodities. Additionally, a demonstration of the "Annapurti" automated multi-commodity grain distribution machine created by the UN World Food Programme (UN-WFP) and automatic grain analysers was conducted, highlighting technological breakthroughs in procurement and quality checking procedures.

The inauguration of the sugar-ethanol portal comes at a time when the government is actively supporting the production and consumption of ethanol in the country. As part of the government's biofuel programme, there has been a determined attempt to encourage ethanol blending with petrol in recent years. Ethanol blending not only cuts greenhouse gas emissions but also provides farmers with an additional source of revenue by creating a market for surplus sugarcane.

The portal will serve as a comprehensive platform for players in the sugar and ethanol industries, providing information on laws, regulations, market trends, and the most recent advancements in the field. It will improve access to essential information and foster collaboration among industry actors, policymakers, and researchers.

The meeting also focused on measures to enhance coarse grain purchases, emphasising the relevance of nutritional security. Various states demonstrated their best practises in areas like the creation of model fair price stores, e-KYC and de-duplication of ration cards, supply chain automation, and quality assurance procedures for fortified rice.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.