Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday
said private sugar mills in the state have agreed not to
import raw sugar to safeguard the interest of cane growers.
"The state government had earlier advised sugar mills
not to import raw sugar so as to protect the interest of the
farmers, to which they have agreed," Cabinet Secretary
Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters here.
The private sugar millers, including the country's
biggest producer Bajaj Hindusthan, have already contracted
large amount of imported raw sugar.
When contacted, an official of the UP Sugar Mills
Association refused to comment on any such agreement reached
between the government and the millers in the state.
Singh said the state government will ensure that cane
growers get price of their produce as per the state advisory
price announced by the government.
"We hope that the sugar mills will pay higher than the
state advisory price (SAP) fixed by the government," he said.
Referring to farmer's agitation over SAP, he said the
government had effected maximum hike of Rs 25 per quintal in
the current crushing season. The highest in the last 25 years.
"As compared to last crushing season, when SAP was fixed
at Rs 145 per quintal for advanced variety, this year it had
been increased to Rs 170 per quintal," Singh said.
In addition to this, he said the sugar mills have also
been directed to provide additional facilities to the cane
growers in the state.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 21:52