Farmers Report Decline in Equipment Performance
Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are raising alarms over the impact of 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) on farm equipment. They claim the fuel is reducing machine efficiency, increasing maintenance costs, and shortening the lifespan of petrol-operated tools widely used in orchards. Most orchard machinery—including sprayers, brush cutters, power weeders, and tillers—runs on petrol. Farmers allege that the higher ethanol content is adversely affecting performance, particularly in older models and two-stroke engines not designed for E20.
Efficiency and Cost Concerns
Lokinder Bisht, an apple grower from Rohru, said the immediate impact of E20 is lower fuel efficiency. “The per-litre performance of farm equipment will decline with the increased ethanol content,” he said. He also claimed that ethanol can damage rubber components such as seals and fuel pipes, besides choking filters, leading to frequent repairs and higher maintenance expenses. “This will increase the cost of production and ultimately reduce farmers’ profit margins,” he added.
Two-Stroke Engines Particularly Affected
Yoginder Sharma, a farmer with an MTech degree, said most small agricultural tools used in orchards are powered by two-stroke engines, which, according to him, are not efficient in burning ethanol-blended petrol. “The higher ethanol content is damaging these tools,” he claimed. Sharma also alleged that manufacturers are refusing to honor warranty claims if the damage is linked to ethanol-blended fuel. Recounting his experience, he said his newly purchased power weeder began emitting excessive smoke, but the company suggested that ethanol was the likely cause and declined responsibility. “Small and marginal farmers cannot afford frequent repairs or replacement of expensive equipment. If such a transition was necessary, the government should have introduced it through a proper roadmap and phased implementation,” he said.
Demand for Fuel Choice
Another apple grower from Rohru, Dimple Panjta, urged the government to allow consumers the option of choosing between regular petrol and ethanol-blended fuel. He claimed that E20 petrol is unsuitable for many farm machines and believed premium petrol contains lower ethanol content. However, Amit Nanda, a petrol pump owner in Shimla, clarified that both regular and premium petrol contain the same percentage of ethanol. “Premium petrol only has a higher octane rating and additional performance-enhancing additives,” he said.
Price Discrepancy Questioned
Farmers have also questioned why petrol prices have not fallen despite the increased ethanol blending. “If the ethanol content has doubled, fuel prices should have come down as well,” Panjta remarked. The concerns highlight the challenges of implementing E20 fuel without adequate preparation for the agricultural sector, which relies heavily on petrol-powered machinery.
