Lucknow: Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh on Monday asked the Centre to stop import of sugar and resume exporting the commodity to ensure that cane farmers get proper
price of their produce.
"Keeping in mind surplus sugar avilable in the country, the Centre should stop import of sugar and instead start exporting it," Singh told reporters here after a meeting with the office-bearers of the cane committees in Uttar Pradesh.
He said this year as the cane area was likely to increase by 20 per cent, bumper cane crop and sugar production was expected. "Still, the Centre has not stopped sugar import and this will create crisis as farmers will not get reasonable price of their produce," he said.
"There will be a surplus stock of 10 million tonnes by the end of the season," he added. He said government should abolish the system of levy sugar and instead purchase it at market rates, like other commodities.
The RLD chief said while the new crushing season was scheduled to start, the Uttar Pradesh government was yet to decide cane area after consulting the farmers. He said the government had not taken steps to get the cane price fixed.
"The government should organise a meeting of sugar mills and farmers and get the price fixed," he demanded. Singh claimed amendment in the Land Acquisition Act will not solve the problems of farmers as it would not be able to chcek their exploitation. “Instead of mediating, the Centre and state should allow the farmers to fix price of their land. We have moved a private bill on land acquisition, which is pending with the President for her assent," he said.
He alleged the speed with which Mayawati government was acquiring land in the state would pose a "serious threat" to food security. "The government has proposed to construct eight expressways for which 25 per cent land in UP will be acquired by the government, which will have a negative effect on the food security," he alleged.
PTI
