Chhattisgarh seeks Centre's help for sugarcane research

The research institute would encourage sugarcane cultivation and help farmers increasing its quality as well as productivity

Chhattisgarh government had demanded Union government's assistance for setting up sugarcane research centre in the state.

At a recently held meeting in New Delhi, Chhattisgarh's agriculture minister Brijmohan Agrawal said that establishing a research institute in the tribal-dominated state would encourage sugarcane cultivation and help farmers increasing its quality as well as productivity. He urged the Centre to provide necessary assistance for the same.

Agrawal suggested that minimum support price should be fixed for the procurement of sugarcane. He also demanded that production of sugarcane should be exempted from central excise duty to boost farmers and sugar mills to produce more sugarcane.

"The Centre should create sugar buffer stock to keep a check on the rising price of sugar," Agrawal said. The acreage of sugarcane crop in Chhattisgarh had reached 35,000 hectare, the minister said, adding that the state had three sugar mills and proposals had been made to setup more sugar mills as per the requirement.

He emphasized on taking necessary action to ensure proper funding from banks for farmers and businessmen related to the business. Agrawal also stressed for the requirement of setting up cold storages for sugarcane in the state to preserve sugar content in canes for longer time.

The production of sugar in the state had about 70,000 metric tonnes. According to officials, about 777,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane had been produced in the state.