Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (13-5-2025)

Special Report Special Report

Countering th e declining share of agricultural be grown on wastelands and does not (sugar beet) has to be actively examined Several R&D initiatives have been
in India. Sugar beet crop is not only a launched with active government sup-
come in confl ict with other food crops.
sector in GDP Biodiesel can be extracted from like molasses for production of ethanol, USA, for promotion of algae crop, bio-
source of sugar, but several by-products port in several countries, including
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ddressing an event on Earth to promote agri-based N.S. VENKATARAMAN algae oils, and ethanol can be produced and pulp & leaves for cattle feed. Sugar diesel and ethanol. Commercial success
IndiaChemTrade
ChemImpex
Day (22nd April, 2025), Union industries so as to Director from the algae biomass left after oil beet cultivation requires less water as has already been achieved to a signi-
ARoad Transport & Highways maximize returns to Nandini Consultancy Centre extraction, by fermentation. compared to sugarcane and two crops fi cant extent.
Free for subscribers of Chemical Weekly
Minister pointed out that the contri- the farming commu- Chennai For subscribers only of sugar beet can be taken in one year. It
Considering the large availability of can be grown practically for 10 months
By facilitating the production of
bution of agriculture to GDP has come nity and so improve Email: nandinichemical@gmail.com ChemImpex, the trade database, tracks, on a daily IndiaChemTrade provides consolidated trade statistics
down to 14% over the years in India. the contribution of waste land in India, good sunshine for every year. Sugar beet is excellent in ethanol from algae crop and beet sugar
of India. The information provided here is based on the
basis, exports and imports of chemicals and related
agricultural sector to starch from maize can be utilized for most of the year in several parts of the rotation with most of crops, enhancing crop, the national production of ethanol
annual trade data published by the Directorate General
products through the major ports in India — a vital
This statement must spur informed national GDP. the production of derivative chemicals country and the availability of carbon its productivity. Sugar beet can give the can be tripled within next 18 months
of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Government
source of commercial intelligence. Find out on-line
national debate on appropriate methods such as citric acid, L-lysine and others, dioxide (a global warming gas emitted same amount of sugar as sugarcane per and enable a further increase in the
how international markets are moving; where your
of India. The database can be searched by: Chemical
for improving the contribution of agri- Ethanol for blending with petrol – which are presently produced from petro- in huge quantity by power plants and land unit in half the time (5-6 months blending ratio of ethanol in petrol. This
competitors are exporting and at what price; where
Name/Harmonised Code to obtain the consolidated
culture to GDP in an eco-friendly and Source of ethanol should be appro- chemical feedstock and a few of them others), growth and utilisation of algae vis-à-vis 12 months) with one-third the can enable India to reduce its import
dependence on crude oil to some extent
imports are coming from and how their prices are
holistic manner. priate are largely imported. Using starch as crop can be a win-win situation for the water requirement. trade (import or export) in that item; or by Country to
and move towards achieving zero emis-
moving. Download all this data, seamlessly, for a
Government of India is focusing on feedstock for production of derivative country. obtain the trade (import or export) in all chemicals and
sion target in future, apart from improv-
Need for policy initiatives by
At present, manufacturing sector blending ethanol, produced from sugar- chemicals can indirectly help reduce small fee — online, anytime, with no hassles. related products between India and that country
contributes 22% and services sector cane crop and others, with petrol to the import level of crude oil and also Algae crop should be cultivated in Government of India ing the contribution of agricultural
In spite of several advantages, algae sector to national GDP.
contributes 54% to national GDP. reduce the import dependence on crude provide better returns for the farming several regions and the facility for ChemXchange
oil. To achieve this objective, remunera- community cultivating such crops. extracting biodiesel and production of crop is not being cultivated in India to
Open to all registered users — no subscription required
The contribution of agriculture to tive price for ethanol purchase have ethanol can be set up in the nearby produce biodiesel and ethanol and beet This is an elegant scheme for pro-
ChemXchange — the chemical exchange with a difference — is where you can identify your buyers and sup-
GDP has been steadily coming down. been announced by oil marketing com- The rate of return by converting regions. This would be an elegant way crop is not cultivated in India for the moting agri-based industries that provide
plyers on-line, any time. This unique platform is free to all advertisers in the print version of Chemical Weekly.
The area of land under agriculture has panies. Further, Government of India is starch into derivative products would of combining agricultural operations production of beet sugar and ethanol. multiple benefi ts for the country as well
also been declining, due to diversion of permitting ethanol production not only be better than using starch for produc- and industrial activity, signifi cantly There is no justifi cation on technologi- as the farming community. This would be
For more information contact: 022-24044477. Fax: 022-24044450
agricultural land to infrastructure pro- from traditional feedstock of molasses ing ethanol. contributing to improve the economy cal or economic grounds for missing a win-win opportunity for India.
Email: corporate@chemicalweekly.com or log on to chemicalweekly.com
jects, housing, etc. but also from rice, sugar, sugarcane of the rural India. these opportunities. Globally, 70% of
juice, and starch, which are essentially Ethanol from bamboo the feedstock requirement for making It is necessary that Government of
Obviously, to improve the share of food crops. In this context, Union Road Trans- Ethanol from beet crop sugar is met by sugarcane and the India should promote the scheme by
agriculture to GDP, it is necessary that port & Highways Minister has made an The feasibility of promoting beet balance 30% by sugar beet. appropriate policy measures.
activities in the farming sector should However, in these steps to boost excellent suggestion to produce ethanol
be made economically viable for the production of ethanol, farmers have not from bamboo. Such large scale pro-
farming community, be nationally been benefi ted to the extent that ethanol duction would provide economic and
relevant and provide environmental producing units have availed the social benefi ts and better return to the
benefi ts. benefi ts. farming community, particularly in the
North Eastern region.
At present, agricultural sector in There is difference of opinion in the Missed a copy !!!
India is largely dominated by wheat, country about the advisability of con- Biodiesel/ethanol from algae crop
paddy, sugarcane, cotton and few other verting food crops into feedstock for Algae crop contains 20-25% oil on For Digital Edition of this month’s issue & all other past issues
crops. Government has been trying to ethanol production for blending with an average, depending on the species.
help farmers to improve their incomes petrol. In our large populated country Visit www.hpicindia.com
by providing Minimum Support Price with one of the highest population den- Algae is a quick growing crop, with
for a few crops and a few other pro sities in the world and population level 1-3 doublings per day, and the average
active measures have also been imple- still rising and signifi cant percentage of time for algae growth up to harvesting PDF copies available for download
mented. But these have only helped national population still living below is around four weeks only. Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
the farming community to sustain agri- poverty line, diverting food crops for Register Now
cultural operations at the present level, ethanol production may be a question- For growth of algae, only good sun-
without enhancing the contribution of able decision. shine (solar radiation), carbon dioxide, Contact: For Subscription : Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
agriculture to national growth. and small quantity of nutrients are
Instead of using starch produced required. Saline/brackish water/coastal For Advertising : Mr. Vijay Raghavan - vijay@hpicindia.com
One sure way to achieve this end is from maize for production of ethanol, seawater is adequate. Algae crop can
168 Chemical Weekly May 13, 2025 Chemical Weekly May 13, 2025 169
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