K'taka fixes advance price for sugarcane at Rs 2,200 a tonne

The final price for sugarcane for 2012-13 would be decided as per revenue sharing formula between the factories and the sugarcane farmers, he told reporters here.

He said the pending dues for farmers for 2011-12 would also be decided based on this formula in a month after a committee, headed by Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti, submits its report on the revenue sharing pattern.

The 30-member committee comprises two other Cabinet ministers, government officials, representatives of sugar factories, farmers' leaders and sugar experts.

South Karnataka has a total of 16 sugar factories in the districts of Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar.

Sugar prices ruled in the region of Rs 3,400 per quintal in August and in the current month, officials said.

While the country's sugar production is projected to be 240-250 lakh tonnes in 2012-13, Karnataka's share in that is expected to be 29.56 lakh tonnes, they said.

It is estimated that a quintal of sugar is expected to fetch on an average Rs 3,000, officials said.