A delegation of the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC) met Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday, 4 August, expressing strong support for the ethanol programme while insisting that its policy must be 'farmer-centric' and that remunerative prices must be paid directly to cultivators. The meeting brought together farm leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and several other states.

Key Demands from Farm Leaders

The AIKCC delegation made clear that while farmers broadly welcome ethanol as a new revenue stream, the programme's benefits must not be captured by companies or middlemen. According to an official statement from the meeting, farm leaders said: 'With ethanol production, the produce of the field will not remain limited only to the mandi, but will reach petrol pumps and the energy market. This will create a new and strong market for farmers.'

Leaders specifically highlighted that when ethanol is produced from sugarcane, maize, rice, and other feedstocks, farmers gain access to more buyers, reducing the twin problems of crop spoilage and storage. However, they stressed that remunerative prices — regardless of the feedstock — must be guaranteed and paid directly to the farmer.

What the Government Assured

Minister Chouhan assured the delegation that the Centre is committed to ensuring the ethanol programme's benefits flow through the entire supply chain — 'from the field to the fuel tank' — with the largest share directed toward farmers. He added that ethanol would simultaneously strengthen India's energy security and improve farm incomes, according to the official statement.

Chouhan also committed to reviewing the policy to maintain a balance between prices and demand for maize, rice, sugarcane, and other feedstocks. He said decisions would be taken 'only from the point of view of farmer interest, especially the benefit of maize farmers.'

Countering Misinformation

Several farm leaders at the meeting flagged that misinformation is being circulated on social media and certain platforms, alleging that ethanol damages vehicles or harms farmers' interests. Minister Chouhan responded that the government would use scientific studies and technical reports to counter this 'negative narrative' and would carry forward 'fact-based dialogue' in partnership with farmers.

Notably, the meeting also covered broader issues including Minimum Support Price (MSP), agricultural markets, and the National Agriculture Policy, though ethanol remained the central theme.

What This Means for India's Ethanol Roadmap

India has been aggressively scaling its ethanol blending programme — targeting 20% blending in petrol by 2025 — and farm-sector buy-in is critical to sustaining feedstock supply. The AIKCC's conditional endorsement signals that farmers see the opportunity but remain watchful about price and policy design. Chouhan underlined that Krishi Bhavan's doors remain open to farmers, describing them as 'partners in policy' rather than opponents of the government. How the Centre structures pricing and procurement mechanisms in the coming months will determine whether this political goodwill translates into ground-level participation.