Context :
FCI
cuts off rice supply, ethanol makers in a crisis ……. Times of India … 25 July 2023
Extract / Highlights :
Nearly
100 distilleries producing ethanol are at a serious crisis as FCI has
stopped supplying rice to them for more than a week. Govt is reviewing its
policy of supplying surplus rice from the FCI for manufacture of ethanol.
Sources
said against the target of selling 34 lakh ( 3.4 million ) tonnes of
rice to distilleries during the current Ethanol Year, ( 2022 – 23 ) , so far
the FCI has supplied around 14 lakh ( 1.4 million ) tonnes
Industry
sources ,,,, claimed that the sudden discontinuation of rice supplies to distilleries
has the potential to delay the Government’s target to achieve 14 % ethanol blending in Petrol by
November this year
In
2021-22, the FCI had sold around 10 lakh ( 1 million ) tonnes of rice for the
production of ethanol.
The
average price of rice has touched Rs 41 per kg as
compared to Rs 40 per kg, a month ago
==================================================
Related Readings :
Is
Gadkariji having second thoughts ? ………………………. 26 April 2022
Not a
straightforward Answer !................. …… …….. 03 March 2017
My poser to BARD :
“ Dear BARD :
Is it ethical to
use rice for the production of ETHANOL for blending with Petrol ?
While justifying your stand, in your bulleted paragraphs, quote
following statistics :
# Number of
persons in India who are suffering from malnutrition
since they
cannot afford to buy rice at market price
# If these persons were given 3.4 million tons of
rice, for FREE ,
how much
reduction in malnutrition can be achieved ?
# At 14 % blending
of Ethanol , how much Petrol
can India save per year and
how much reduction in Carbon Emission can be achieved ?
# To produce 3.4 million tons of rice , how much water would be required ?
What
effect would such usage have on depletion of ground water ? Could such
usage lead to wide-spread drinking water scarcity in India ?
# If this requirement
of water was diverted for growing MILLET, how many
tonnes of millet can be grown ? Could this millet help reduce malnutrition in
India ?
BARD replied as follows :
The ethicality of using rice for the production of ethanol for blending
with petrol is a complex issue with no easy answer. There are a number of
factors to consider, including the following:
·
The number of people in India who are
suffering from malnutrition.
·
According to the World Bank, 14.5% of Indians are undernourished. This means that they do not have
enough to eat to meet their basic nutritional needs. If these people were given
3.4 million tons of rice, for free, it would help to reduce malnutrition in
India by a significant amount.
·
·
The amount of petrol that can be saved by
blending ethanol with petrol.
·
At 14% blending, India could
save approximately 2.4 billion liters of petrol per year. This would lead to a reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 10 million
tons per year.
·
·
The amount of water required to produce
3.4 million tons of rice.
·
It takes approximately 2,500 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of rice. This means that 8.5 billion liters of water would be required to produce
3.4 million tons of rice. This could have a significant impact on the depletion
of groundwater resources, especially in areas that are already water-stressed.
·
·
The amount of millet that could be grown
if the water used to produce rice was diverted to millet production.
·
Millet is a drought-resistant crop
that requires less water to grow than rice. If the water used to produce 3.4
million tons of rice was diverted
to millet production, it would be possible to grow approximately 10-20 million tons of millet. This would help to reduce
malnutrition in India by providing a more nutritious food source for those who
are currently undernourished.
·
Overall,
The ethicality of using rice for the production of ethanol for blending
with petrol is a complex issue with no easy answer. There are a number of
factors to consider, and the decision of whether or not to use rice for ethanol
production is a difficult one.
In my opinion, the ethical thing to do would be to use
rice for food production rather than for ethanol production.
This is because the number of people in India who
are suffering from malnutrition is so high, and the
amount of water required to produce rice is so significant. However, I also
recognize that the use of ethanol for blending with petrol can have a number of
benefits, such as reducing carbon emissions and saving petrol.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use rice for ethanol
production is a complex one that must be made on a case-by-case basis.
However, I believe
that the ethical thing to do is to prioritize food production over ethanol
production, especially in areas that are already water-stressed.
And here is how ChatGPT replied :
Subject: Ethical Considerations of
Using Rice for Ethanol Production in India
Introduction:
The use of rice for ethanol production and its potential impact on
various aspects of society and the environment raises ethical concerns. Below,
we will examine the issue in detail, considering statistics and implications.
1.
Number of persons suffering from
malnutrition in India due to unaffordable rice prices:
2.
·
As of the latest available data,
approximately 195 million people in India suffer from
malnutrition, unable to afford rice at market prices (source: Food and
Agriculture Organization, FAO).
2.
Potential reduction in malnutrition with
3.4 million tons of free rice distribution:
3.
·
If 3.4 million tons of rice were
given for free to those suffering from malnutrition, assuming an average daily
requirement of 400 grams per person, it
could provide sustenance for approximately 23.8 million people for a year. This
could lead to a significant reduction in malnutrition in India.
·
3.
Impact of 14% ethanol blending on petrol consumption and carbon emission reduction:
4.
·
India's annual petrol consumption is
approximately 31.8 million tons (source: Statista). At a 14% blending rate,
using ethanol from rice could save approximately 4.45 million tons of petrol
annually.
·
·
Ethanol is considered a cleaner fuel
compared to petrol. By achieving a 14% blending rate, India could potentially
reduce carbon emissions by approximately 10 million tons per year (based on the
assumption that ethanol combustion releases fewer greenhouse gases than petrol
combustion).
·
4.
Water requirement for producing 3.4
million tons of rice and its impact on groundwater
depletion:
5.
·
Growing 1 ton of rice typically requires around 2,500 to 5,000 cubic meters of water (source:
UNESCO). Therefore, producing 3.4 million tons of rice could require 8.5 to 17 billion cubic meters of water.
·
·
The heavy reliance on water for rice
production could lead to significant groundwater depletion in regions where
water resources are already stressed. Prolonged and excessive extraction of
groundwater may lead to widespread drinking water scarcity in those areas.
5.
Potential millet production if water
diverted from rice cultivation:
6.
·
Assuming 2,500 cubic meters of water
required per ton of millet (source: International Crops Research Institute for
the Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT), diverting the water from rice production could
enable the cultivation of approximately 1.36
million tons of millet.
·
·
Millet is a nutritious grain, rich in
essential nutrients, and its widespread consumption could contribute to
reducing malnutrition in India.
1.
Balancing
food security:
2.
3.
Using rice for ethanol production
could exacerbate food scarcity for vulnerable populations who already suffer
from malnutrition due to unaffordable prices.
4.
5.
Environmental
impact:
6.
7.
Ethanol production from rice may
offer carbon emission reductions but could lead to groundwater depletion and
environmental consequences due to water-intensive rice cultivation.
8.
9.
Alternative
solutions:
10.
11.
Exploring other non-food-based feedstocks
for ethanol production, promoting sustainable farming practices, and investing
in renewable energy sources could be more ethical approaches.
In
conclusion,
the ethical implications of using
rice for ethanol production must be carefully considered, weighing the
potential reduction in carbon emissions against its impact on malnutrition and
groundwater depletion. Sustainable alternatives and comprehensive policies are
essential to address these complex challenges effectively.
I got back to ChatGPT :
“Dear ChatGPT >
Many
thanks for your prompt and logical reply .
But what I fail to understand is : By utilising water required to grow 3.4 million
tonnes of rice , for producing Millet ( which requires much less water as
compared
to rice ) , how come you say that only 1.36 million tons of millet can
be produced
!
I would
have thought , it should be 5 to 10 times more ! Please recheck ,
recalculate
and rewite your reply “
ChatGPT
got back :
Apologies for the confusion, and you
are right.
I made an error in the
calculation. Let's re-evaluate the potential millet production when diverting
the water required for 3.4 million tons of rice:
1.
Water requirement for producing 3.4 million tons of rice:
·
Assuming 2,500 to 5,000 cubic meters
of water per ton of rice (source: UNESCO),
·
Total water required for 3.4 million
tons of rice could be between 8.5 to 17 billion cubic meters.
2.
Potential millet production with the same amount of water:
·
Assuming 2,500 cubic meters of water
per ton of millet (source: ICRISAT),
·
With 17 billion cubic meters of
water, the potential millet production would be 6.8 million tons.
·
With 8.5 billion cubic meters of
water, the potential millet production would be 3.4 million tons.
Therefore, by diverting the water required for 3.4 million tons of rice
to millet production, India could potentially produce 3.4 to 6.8 million tons of millet.
This increased millet production could indeed have a more substantial
impact on reducing malnutrition in the country. Millet's nutritional value and
its ability to thrive in water-limited conditions make it a promising option
for enhancing food security in regions facing water scarcity.
Thank you for pointing out the
mistake, and I hope this corrected information clarifies the potential benefit
of diverting water to millet production.
=======================-------------------------------------------------
Dear
Policy Makers
( Petroleum
Ministry – Transport Ministry )
As far as using
FOOD GRAINS ( and also SUGAR CANE ) for producing Ethanol ( for blending with
Petrol ) is concerned , considerations are bound to differ from one country to
another
In our case , we
should use food grains to fight malnutrition – and not for saving petrol
I urge you to
reconsider our policy
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.hemenparekh.ai / 26 July
2023
