Farmers are an integral part of the State’s alcohol-beverage industry, and the government is committed to ensuring inclusive industrial growth in Karnataka, according to Shivkumar Eashwaran, chairman of Indian Chamber of Commerce.

He urged the industry not to leave farmers behind in their growth journey, as most raw materials required for breweries — including barley, grains, fruits, and other agricultural produce — are cultivated by farmers. They are an integral part of industry supply chains, he said at an industry conclave in Bengaluru on May 25.

Addressing the conclave in Bengaluru, Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur said, “The growth of the brewery ecosystem should not only benefit breweries, manufacturers, and front-end industry players, but also farmers and raw material providers at the grassroots level.”

The Minister said the industry currently generates nearly ₹40,000 crore annually through excise revenue, adding that the government is committed to significantly expanding the sector through forward-looking policy frameworks.

Mr. Timmapur said Karnataka has undertaken significant excise and regulatory reforms over the last year to improve ease of doing business and strengthen the alco-bev ecosystem.

The government is moving towards a more transparent, technology-enabled and industry-friendly ecosystem through simplified label approvals, streamlined declared price and MRP updation, digital compliance mechanisms, annual licence renewal reforms, and operational rationalisation measures, the Minister said.

The Minister also stressed the importance of sustainability initiatives, including bottle recycling, wastewater treatment, water conservation, and environmentally responsible manufacturing, to protect nature and the ecosystem. He added that strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing dependence on imports would help build a stronger, globally competitive Indian brewing industry.

Shivkumar Eashwaran, chairman of Indian Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Canadian Crystalline Water India Limited, and Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in South India, said sustainability, inclusive growth, and resource optimisation would define the future of the alco-bev industry.

“Water conservation, wastewater recycling, energy efficiency, and circular economy practices must become integral to brewing and distillation operations. Karnataka has the opportunity to emerge as a globally benchmarked sustainable brewing ecosystem,” he said.