Farmers who feed the nation could soon power it as well, union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, describing a new role for them as ‘urjadata’ (energy providers) and ‘indhandata’ (fuel providers) alongside their identity as ‘annadata’ (food producers). He was speaking in Jaunpur district, where he inaugurated three completed National Highway projects worth ₹ 3,210 crore and launched work on five others costing around ₹ 400 crore.
These sectors would also help attract industries and generate employment, he added. “Hydrogen will be produced by Uttar Pradesh’s farmers. Addressing the gathering, Gadkari said National Highway projects worth ₹ 5 lakh crore were underway in Uttar Pradesh. Of these, projects worth ₹ 1 lakh crore had been completed, while those worth ₹ 3 lakh crore were in the pipeline and the remaining works were in progress. He cited ethanol production from maize, broken rice and sugarcane, and said an ethanol-powered Toyota Innova would be launched on November 26.
He said infrastructure development in water, electricity, telecommunications and roads was essential to achieving the goal of a developed India. Speaking about alternative fuels, Gadkari said farmers should move beyond being food providers and become producers of energy and fuel. Discussing technological changes in the agricultural and rural sectors, Gadkari said farmers, traditionally known as annadata, should also become urjadata and indhandata. This hydrogen will run our aircraft, cars and railway engines,” Gadkari said, adding that he also used a hydrogen-powered car in Delhi. “Farmers in Uttar Pradesh would soon be involved in producing hydrogen from water under the guidance of chief minister Yogi Adityanath,” he said.
