Maize diversion for ethanol raises poultry feed, edible oil prices, sparking concerns for sugar industry, soybean farmers

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

It has, however, cast a shadow on several other sectors—it has pushed up the prices of poultry feed and cooking oils and hit the wallets of consumers and the profits of oilseed farmers.

CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST

Long before policymakers decided to ferment corn to produce biofuel that can be mixed with petrol, it was chicken’s favourite food. According to industry estimates, India’s poultry sector consumes 60% of maize produced in the country, with the rest being used mostly as livestock feed and by beer and whiskey breweries and starch manufacturers.

The biggest impact of maize’s diversion for ethanol has been on the poultry industry that uses the grain as poultry feed.
Dr KG Anand, general manager (south) of Venkateshwara Hatcheries, better known as Venky’s, says, “The poultry industry has started facing a severe shortage of maize as the grain’s use for ethanol has gone up from 1 million tonnes in 2022-23 (ethanol supply year runs from November to October) to 7 million tonnes in 2023-24 and is projected to grow to 13 million tonnes in 2024-25.”

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