Nitin Gadkari says UP farmers will soon produce hydrogen from water that will run planes, cars and trains

Uttar Pradesh farmers may soon have a new role beyond growing crops. They could become producers of energy including hydrogen, which could power aircraft, cars and railway engines, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said. Addressing a programme in Mungra Badshahpur in Jaunpur on Thursday, November 5, Gadkari said farmers should move beyond their traditional identity as annadata (food providers) and become urjadata (energy providers) and indhandata (fuel providers). "Hydrogen will be produced by Uttar Pradesh's farmers. This hydrogen will run our aircraft, cars and railway engines," he said. The minister added that farmers in the state would soon be involved in producing hydrogen from water under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He also mentioned that he had used a hydrogen-powered car in Delhi

How will UP farmers produce hydrogen?

Gadkari's proposal involves expanding the role of agriculture in India's emerging alternative-fuel economy. He spoke about using water and agricultural waste to generate hydrogen. Farm residues such as sugarcane bagasse, soybean waste and rice residue could also become important resources for energy production. The minister also referred to municipal waste as another potential source of hydrogen.

The broader idea is to make agricultural resources commercially useful beyond conventional farming. Instead of treating crop residue as waste, it could be processed into fuel and other industrial products. If such initiatives are implemented at scale, farmers could gain access to additional income streams while contributing to India's energy requirements.

Farmers could also benefit from ethanol and aviation fuel

Hydrogen is not the only alternative fuel Gadkari wants farmers to explore. He also highlighted the growing potential of ethanol, which can be produced using agricultural crops such as maize, sugarcane and broken rice. He said ethanol production had already created financial opportunities for farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

According to Gadkari, maize prices increased from around Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,600 per quintal following the expansion of ethanol production. He claimed the development had generated benefits worth approximately Rs 45,000 crore for farmers in the two states. The minister also announced that an ethanol-powered Toyota Innova would be launched on November 26. He referred to the development of ethanol-powered two-wheelers and other vehicles as part of the country's shift towards alternative fuels.

Gadkari also discussed the possibility of producing aviation fuel from agricultural produce and manufacturing bitumen for road construction using rice straw. These initiatives are aimed at creating new markets for agricultural produce and reducing dependence on conventional petroleum-based fuels.

India spends Rs 22 lakh crore on petroleum imports, says Gadkari

Making a case for alternative energy, Gadkari said India spends approximately Rs 22 lakh crore every year on petroleum imports. He argued that producing more fuel domestically could help reduce the country's dependence on foreign energy suppliers while allowing farmers to participate in the expanding fuel economy.

The minister also highlighted the growing use of electric vehicles, including electric buses, trucks and construction equipment. Gadkari expressed confidence that Uttar Pradesh could eventually move from being an energy-importing state towards becoming an energy exporter.

Gadkari announces Rs 3,650 crore road projects in Jaunpur

The hydrogen announcement came during Gadkari's visit to Jaunpur, where he inaugurated and launched highway and infrastructure projects worth around Rs 3,650 crore. The projects cover approximately 191.5 km under the National Highways Authority of India's eastern Uttar Pradesh region. Three completed projects worth Rs 3,210 crore were dedicated to the nation. These include:

• Rae Bareli-Prayagraj four-lane road: A 63-km stretch constructed at a cost of Rs 1,505 crore.
• Jagatpur-Babuganj-Unchahar-Alapur bypass and bridge: A 24-km project costing Rs 1,078 crore.
• Machhlishahr-Janghai-Bhadohi road: A 49-km road developed at a cost of Rs 627 crore.

Gadkari also laid the foundation stones for five projects, including the Mungra Badshahpur bypass, road-widening work in Jaunpur, an overbridge at the Mariahu railway crossing and a bridge over the Sai river.

These projects are expected to improve connectivity across eastern Uttar Pradesh, reduce traffic congestion and make the movement of agricultural produce and commercial vehicles easier.

Rs 5 lakh crore worth of highway projects underway in UP

Gadkari said national highway projects worth approximately Rs 5 lakh crore were being undertaken across UP. He said projects worth around Rs 1 lakh crore had already been completed, while another Rs 3 lakh crore worth of work was in the pipeline. The remaining projects were at various stages of progress.

The minister also stressed that better roads, electricity, water and telecommunications infrastructure were essential for attracting industries and generating employment. He recalled his earlier promise to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that roads in Uttar Pradesh would eventually match those in the United States.

Quoting former US President John F Kennedy, Gadkari said: "American roads are not good because America is rich. America is rich because American roads are good." He said improved connectivity would help Uttar Pradesh strengthen its industrial and agricultural sectors. The minister expressed confidence that the combination of infrastructure development, alternative fuels and agricultural innovation would help transform the state's economy.

(Inputs from PTI and TOI)