Raipur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
today asked farmers to grow crops which are profitable and use
the latest techniques to boost farm yields and income.
Gadkari was addressing farmers this evening here at
the ongoing National Agriculture Fair .
"Second generation ethanol can be produced from the
straw of paddy. Trials to use ethanol as fuel in vehicles has
been successfully conducted. The Centre has decided to give
permission to use it as transport fuel," the Union Minister
for Road Transport and Highways said.
Gadkari said that if the experiment was successful,
ethanol production units would be set up in Chhattisgarh,
benefiting farmers.
Gadkari added that Chhattisgarh could become an
"ethanol bowl" apart from being a "rice bowl".
He said that in view of the bumper production of
paddy, a research centre should be set up based on paddy straw
and paddy husk in the state.
PTI