New Delhi: With sugarcane farmers on the
warpath in UP against the State Advised Price for their
produce, the Centre has said sugar mills in the state will
have to pay more than the announced rate of Rs 160-170 a
quintal.
The assurance was given to a Congress delegation by Union
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar here last night.
"Pawar has promised that mill owners will have to give
much more price to the farmers than the rate decided by the
state government," party general secretary Digvijay Singh, who
was part of the delegation, said.
On the outcome of the meeting, UP Party chief Rita
Bahuguna Joshi said, "Fair and Remunerative price (FRP) is
only the minimum price at which sugarcane can be sold. There
is no cap on the maximum price."
The minister assured the delegation that farmers were
free to negotiate with sugar mills for a higher price, she
said.
The Centre has fixed FRP of Rs 129.84 a quintal for
sugarcane for 2009-10 season (October-September), while UP has
announced SAP (State Advised Price) of Rs 160-170 a quintal.
Sugar mills have not started crushing this season for lack of
supply as farmers are demanding Rs 280 a quintal.
Pawar had on Tuesday called a meeting of UP Sugar Mills
Association and asked them to pay a higher price to farmers.
Bureau Report
