Uzani: Hybrid maize grown in Badaun district will now be used to produce ethanol in Punjab. While this maize was earlier used mainly for poultry feed and biscuit production, it is now being sent for ethanol manufacturing, reported Amar Ujala.
A shipment of 2,700 metric tonnes of maize was dispatched from Badaun to Bathinda, Punjab, on Friday, where a factory processes maize into ethanol.
The area under hybrid maize cultivation in Badaun has been steadily increasing over the past five years. This year, maize yields in Ujhani, Dataganj, Bilsi, Sahaswan, Bisauli, and Kadar Chowk have been better than previous seasons. According to maize farmer Rampal Singh, favourable weather conditions have helped the crop. There has been no rainfall during the harvesting period, maing it easier for farmers to harvest and dry the maize.
Amit Mittal, the owner of the firm responsible for the shipment, said that approximately 2,700 metric tonnes of high-quality maize were loaded onto the train. He added that the ethanol factory management in Bathinda agreed to buy the maize due to its good quality. He also mentioned that two to three more shipments are expected to be sent to Bathinda this month, and bulk buyers are in touch with the suppliers to arrange loading.
Previously, maize rakes from Badaun had been sent to West Bengal and Bihar. Apart from ethanol, maize is commonly used for poultry feed and biscuit production, while its use in flour form remains limited.
Meanwhile, 2,600 metric tonnes of wheat were shipped to Karnataka four days ago. A similar quantity had also been sent last month.
According to KP Singh, Commercial Superintendent of Railways, the number of wheat shipments this year is significantly lower than last year. He added that last year, wheat rakes had also been dispatched from Badaun to Gujarat.
