Scientists at Madhya Pradesh’s Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya have unveiled the state’s first hybrid variety of sorghum that is capable of producing ethanol. Known for its health benefits, sorghum may soon play a crucial role in powering vehicles, in addition to its use as food.
Sorghum, often celebrated as a superfood for aiding digestion has now been engineered to deliver industrial benefits as well. The new variety, CSV-54HB, developed at the university’s horticulture center at the College of Agriculture in Indore, produces not only food grains but also biomass suitable for ethanol extraction, reported ETV Bharat.
Prof. Arvind Kumar Shukla, Vice Chancellor of the university, emphasized the crop’s dual potential. He explained that the hybrid variety can yield up to 50 tonnes of green fodder per hectare, and one tonne of dried sorghum can generate up to 360 liters of ethanol.
Ethanol production in India has traditionally been dominated by sugarcane, but with a decline in sugarcane acreage and rising demand for sugar, researchers have been looking for alternative sources. Sorghum-based ethanol, according to Prof. Shukla, offers a more sustainable and reliable solution.
The university has begun distributing seeds of CSV-54HB to farmers through its Indore center. Dr. Usha Saxena, a scientist at the center, is also demonstrating the crop’s potential by showcasing it in farmer fields. As ethanol production from sorghum becomes a viable option, experts predict that the price of sorghum will rise, making it a more lucrative crop for farmers across the region.
