HENCY R SHAH AND ASSOCIATES

Does India Need Green Revolution 2.0? India needs a second green revolution along with the next generation of reforms to make agriculture more climate-resistant and environmentally sustainable. Observing that Indian agriculture has exhibited remarkable resilience during the COVID-19 period, new emerging challenges warrant a second green revolution along with next-generation reforms. Despite the success in terms of production that has ensured food security in the country, food inflation and its volatility remain a challenge, which requires supply-side interventions such as higher public investment, storage infrastructure and promotion of food processing. Indian agriculture scaled new heights with record production of various foodgrains, and commercial and horticultural crops, exhibiting resilience and ensuring food security during the COVID-19 period. The sector, however, confronted various challenges, mitigation of which requires a holistic policy approach. For instance, ...

Is Ethanol blending the next game changer?  India's E20 India launched a pilot for E20, or petrol blended with 20% ethanol at the ‘India Energy Week’ in Bengaluru, bringing forward by two years the launch of a cleaner-burning version of petrol. What is Ethanol Blending? Ethyl alcohol or Ethanol (C2H5OH) is a biofuel that is naturally made by fermenting sugar. While it is mostly derived by extracting sugar from sugarcane, other organic matter like foodgrains can also be used for its production. As part of its carbon reduction commitments, India has launched the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme to mix this biofuel with petrol to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel. Earlier, the government announced the achievement of E10 target, that is, the petrol used in the country has 10% ethanol in it. Then PM launched the pilot of E20 across at least 15 cities. The same is expected to be rolled out across the country in a phased manner in the coming months and years. Why E20...