Cane farmers demand more export of sugar

Sugarcane farmers from Uttar Pradesh, the country’s largest cane-producing state, urged the Centre on Thursday to allow more export of sugar in the current crop year that ends in September so that mills can clear their dues accruing to the growers.

A delegation of farmers that met food minister K V Thomas sough more export of sugar, as mills have surplus stock of around 3.2 million tonnes of sugar, while till now exports have been allowed for 2.6 million tonnes. “There is a surplus production to enable mills clear the cane arrears accruing to farmers which is estimated to be around Rs 1,500 crore,” said Awadesh Mishra, ex-president of Chairman Associations of Cane Societies, UP.

The minister is believed to have assured the delegation that their demands would be considered and would be put before the empowered Group of Ministers.

The delegation also demanded that the fair and remunerative price that the mills need to pay to cane growers should be raised to Rs 210-220 per quintal from the current Rs 145 per quintal for the 2011-12 season.

The government has allowed 1.5 million tonnes of sugar exports under Open General Licence this year so far in three equal tranches in view of higher output than domestic demand.