Liquor is food for a certain group of people, regardless of what anyone says, stated Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lal Kantha in Parliament. He emphasized that use of rice for alcohol production should not be legally restricted, by-products of rice should be allowed without limitations.
He stressed that as a country, the focus should not be on restricting the use of paddy harvests for by-products but rather on ensuring supply meets demand.
The minister also pointed out that before addressing consumer concerns, the priority should be the farmers. He argued that instead of fixing rice prices arbitrarily, policies should support farmers first.
“A certain amount of rice is used for other products. I feel happy when I hear that various products are made from rice. However, laws prohibit using rice for certain products. It would be beneficial if more by-products were produced from rice, a major agricultural product in our country. The more value we add, the better,” he stated.
He continued:
“Biscuits, cakes… and even alcohol. Alcohol is also food. No matter what doctors or others say, for a certain group of people, it is food. Alcohol is secretly produced, and significant money is spent on it. Beer is made… I believe the more we produce, the better. We need to ensure there is enough alcohol production, but laws restrict it.”
The minister also revealed that some investors approached him seeking land to grow sorghum for beer production. “A company came to me, and I approved it without hesitation. But then there was a rice shortage in the country, leading to political complications,” he explained.
