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Nitin Gadkari calls for ethanol and biofuel growth to boost farmer income, cut fuel imports, reduce pollution, and make India a global clean energy leader.
Nitin Gadkari spoke at the 2nd India Bio-energy & Tech Expo.
Said farmers suffer due to global price control of crops.
Corn ethanol use raised prices from ₹1,200 to ₹2,800 per quintal.
Farmers earned an extra ₹45,000 crore collectively.
Promotes biofuels to cut imports and pollution.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has urged the government to take stronger steps to support Indian farmers and promote the use of ethanol and biofuels. Speaking at the 2nd India Bio-energy & Tech Expo on September 24, 2025, Gadkari said that farmers incomes are being badly affected by global market price fluctuations, and immediate action is needed.
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Gadkari explained that prices of key crops like sugar, corn, and soybeans are not decided in India but are set by other major producing countries.
He said, “Brazil decides sugar prices, Malaysia decides oil prices, the U.S. decides corn prices, and Argentina decides soybean prices. In this global economy, our rural and tribal farmers are struggling to get fair prices.”
He stressed that Indian farmers are vulnerable under such a system and that the government must find ways to make agriculture more profitable.
Gadkari highlighted how shifting the agricultural focus towards bio-energy production can help farmers earn more. He cited the example of corn-based ethanol, where allowing its use as a fuel increased corn prices from ₹1,200 to ₹2,800 per quintal.
This price jump collectively helped farmers earn ₹45,000 crore more. Gadkari believes this model can be scaled up to increase incomes, reduce rural poverty, and make farming a more rewarding profession.
The minister also linked biofuel growth to better air quality and energy security. He said that transportation fuels account for 40% of India’s air pollution and that the country spends nearly ₹22 lakh crore annually on importing fossil fuels.
By promoting biofuels, India can cut pollution levels, save foreign exchange, and move closer to its goal of becoming energy independent. Gadkari also expressed confidence that India can become a global leader in sustainable aviation fuel and even start exporting clean energy solutions to the world.
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Gadkari’s call for boosting ethanol and biofuel production combines farmer welfare with a cleaner future. This move promises better income for rural communities, reduced dependency on costly fuel imports, and improved air quality, helping India take a major step toward energy independence and positioning the country as a leader in sustainable fuel innovation.