Ahilyanagar: Maharashtra State Agricultural Price Commission Chairman and Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Environment and Balanced Development Task Force, Pasha Patel on Monday strongly defended India’s ethanol blending programme, alleging that opposition to E20 fuel is driven by interests opposed to Indian farmers and the country’s long-term energy security.
Addressing reporters during a visit to Ahilyanagar, Patel questioned those campaigning against ethanol-blended petrol, asking who benefits from continued dependence on imported fossil fuels purchased with billions of rupees in foreign exchange instead of biofuels produced by Indian farmers.
He alleged that misinformation about E20 damaging vehicle engines was being spread to discourage its adoption and undermine farmers’ interests.
“Opposing E20 Risks the Next Generation”
Referring to the growing debate over ethanol-blended petrol, Patel said opposition to E20 could have long-term consequences for future generations.
“Today ethanol is produced from molasses, maize, rice and bamboo. Its wider use can strengthen both farmers’ incomes and environmental sustainability. Those opposing it should think about the future of their own children,” he said.
Climate Change and the Shift Towards Biofuels
Patel linked the ethanol programme to climate change mitigation, noting that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen significantly above what many scientists consider a safe threshold.
Quoting United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Patel said the world had entered an “era of global boiling,” arguing that reducing dependence on fossil fuels extracted from underground and increasing the use of renewable biofuels produced from biomass was essential for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
He explained that while burning fossil fuels introduces additional carbon into the atmosphere, biofuels operate within a natural carbon cycle, where plants absorb carbon dioxide during growth before it is released again when the fuel is used.
Warning on Food Security
Patel warned that unchecked climate change could have serious consequences for agriculture and food security.
He said rising temperatures and increasingly erratic weather patterns—including droughts, floods, hailstorms, heatwaves and unseasonal rainfall—could adversely affect foodgrain production, dairy and fisheries.
Citing findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), he said coral reef degradation and changing climatic conditions would have long-term consequences for marine ecosystems and food production.
He urged citizens to study IPCC reports and called for increasing India’s green cover to 33 per cent while accelerating the transition towards biofuels.
Draws Parallel With 1977 Mustard Oil Episode
Patel compared the current debate over ethanol with what he described as the misinformation campaign surrounding mustard oil in the late 1970s.
He claimed that false perceptions regarding mustard oil had damaged domestic oilseed cultivation and increased India’s dependence on imported edible oils. According to Patel, similar misinformation was now being spread against ethanol blending.
Brazil’s Example
Highlighting international experience, Patel said Brazil introduced mandatory ethanol blending in fuel as early as 1931 and currently uses a significantly higher blending percentage than India.
He noted that India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, launched in 2001 under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had gained significant momentum under the Narendra Modi government, with the 20 per cent blending target achieved ahead of schedule.
Economic Benefits
Citing Union Government data released in July 2026, Patel said the ethanol blending programme had helped India save more than ₹1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange between 2014-15 and May 2026 by reducing crude oil imports.
According to the figures cited by Patel, the programme has also generated over ₹1.6 lakh crore in additional income for farmers while reducing carbon emissions by more than 930 lakh metric tonnes.
Given India’s heavy dependence on imported crude oil, he said ethanol blending also supports the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Mission LiFE.
Calls for Greater Public Awareness
Rejecting claims that ethanol damages vehicle engines, Patel maintained that most recently manufactured vehicles are already E20-compliant and said flex-fuel vehicles capable of operating on higher ethanol blends would become increasingly common.
He called on the government and automobile manufacturers to increase public awareness about E20, provide technical guidance for owners of older vehicles and ensure that ethanol production continues to rely on surplus grain, molasses and water-efficient crops such as maize.
Concluding his remarks, Patel urged citizens to support biofuels, describing ethanol blending as both an environmental necessity and an opportunity to strengthen farmers’ incomes while reducing India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
