This processing Plant is being built at Kokodi in Kondagaon at a cost of 140 crores
80 thousand liters of ethanol will be prepared from 200 tonnes of maize per day
Maa Danteshwari Maize Processing and Marketing Cooperative Society will operate the plant
Raipur, 23 February .
As per the intentions of Chief Minister Mr. Baghel,Chhattisgarh’s first ethanol plant based on maize processing is taking shape at Kokodi in Kondagaon district. A target has been set to complete the maize processing plant by June 2023.
It is noteworthy that Maize Processing Plant will open doors of economic prosperity of Maize producing farmers of the district. More than 45 thousand farmers will be directly benefited by this. Along with this, processing of maize will be done after procuring the maize from the maize producing farmers of other nearby districts. Along with this, more than 200 people of the area will get direct employment in the maize processing plant. The establishment of agriculture and forest produce based industries has been kept in the special priority category in the industry policy of the Government of Chhattisgarh.
The maize processing plant being built in Kondagaon district at a cost of Rs 140 crore will improve the lives of many farmers. This is the first plant being set up in the cooperative sector with the help of the state government. Significantly,Kondagaon district has the highest production of maize in the state of Chhattisgarh and with the establishment of this plant, farmers are expected to get maximum price for maize.. This plant will prove beneficial not only in Kondagaon but also for the farmers of Chhattisgarh. About 35 percent of the construction work of the processing plant has been completed
Other works including cooling tower and bossing wall have been completed in the maize processing plant being constructed at village Kokodi in Kondagaon district. Steel binding work is in progress. Along with this, the work of the Fermentation cooling tower has been completed. The construction work of the warehouse of the plant is currently going on. The work of the Boiling section is also being done at a rapid pace. About 60 to 70 percent of the civil works of the boiling section have been completed. Similarly, civil section for ESP section has also been completed and 80 percent work of turbine has also been completed. The construction work of the fermentation tank is going on.. Approval has been received from Environment Department and groundwater use for Maize Processing Plant. Approval has also been received from PESO and IEM.
3.48 lakh metric tonnes of Maize produced in Kondagaon district
Maize production has got a big boost in both Kharif and Rabi seasons in Kondagaon district in the last three-four years. Enthused by the establishment of the plant, farmers are increasing the area under maize year after year. At present, 3 lakh 48 thousand 127 metric tonnes of maize is produced in Kondagaon district every year.
Cooperative society will operate the plant
Maa Danteshwari Maize Processing and Marketing Cooperative Society will operate the maize processing plant being set up in village Kokodi. This plant is being built on 14 acres of government land in village Kokodi. About 45 thousand farmers have been registered for the supply of maize in this plant.
Farmers’ share capital of Rs 7.06 crore
It is worth mentioning that the processing plant for the manufacture of ethanol from maize was found feasible by the State Project Finance Committee. Farmers have contributed a share capital of Rs 7.06 crore in the construction of this plant which is being built at a cost of about Rs 140 crore. Similarly, Rs 21.19 crore has been collected by the Mandi Board, Rs 35.32 crore by the state government, Rs 2.10 crore from the cooperative’s own fund and the remaining Rs 75 crore through bank loan.
Incentive for maize producing farmers
In Kondagaon district, 47 procurement centers have been set up to procure maize at the support price. Maize is produced on a large scale in Kondagaon Makdi, Farsgaon, Baderajpur development blocks of the district. The work of maize procurement is being done by the Chhattisgarh Civil Supplies Corporation. Maize producing farmers are also being given input subsidy at the rate of Rs 9 thousand per acre by the state government under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.
65 thousand farmers are associated with maize production
One lakh 24 thousand 188 tonnes of maize is produced in Kharif season and 2 lakh 23 thousand 929 tonnes in Rabi season in Kondagaon district. About 65 thousand farmers of the district are associated with maize production.
Income of farmers will increase along with employment generation opportunities
With the construction of the maize processing plant, along with increasing the income of the farmers, the local people will also get employment opportunities. The plant will process 200 metric tonnes of maize per day, from which 80 thousand liters of ethanol will be prepared. With the setting up of this plant, a new environment will also be created for private investors to set up other ancillary industries. More than 200 people will get direct employment in the processing plant, while 45 thousand farmers will be indirectly benefited.
Savings in Foreign exchange
The ethanol produced in the plant will be sold to Indian Oil Corporation and this ethanol will be mixed with petrol and sold. This will also save foreign exchange and Farmers will also get reasonable prices for maize.
