Govt may table bill to replace cane ordinance next week

The government hopes to table the bill to replace the sugarcane ordinance on prices in Parliament next week, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said.

Pawar, who had today convened a meeting to evolve a consensus on the ordinance issued to replace the Statutory Minimum Price with a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), said "on every issue, there can't be a consensus. However, discussions are held to sort out the issues raised by the leaders."

He said "I would convene a meeting of MPs of southern states, who have raised objections to the demand for restoration of section 5A."

In today's meeting, some leaders raised the issue of restoration of Section 5A of the Sugarcane Control Order--that provides for price for sugarcane purchased by mills in each season.

The Section, which deals with profit sharing between the millers and the sugarcane growers, was repealed in the ordinance.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, who was also present in the meeting, said his party supported the system of FRP as farmers would henceforth get instant payment while in the earlier system, there was deferred payment.

However, he said the government must balance the price between sugarcane and sugar as consumers suffer when sugar prices soar.