UP paid Rs 6,900 crore as cane price in 2005-06

Lucknow, July 19 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government paid a record Rs 6,900 crore as sugarcane price to farmers in 2005-06.

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said an amount of Rs 18,130 crore had been paid to cane farmers during the tenure of his government.

He announced 18 more sugarmills would be set up in UP to benefit cane growers.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Sugarcane Societies Association led by its president Awadesh Mishra met Mr Yadav here.

The Assocation expressed gratitude for the ''historical decisions'' of record sugarcane payment in UP, arrear payment to farmers pending with cooperative and government sugarmills.

The delegation also handed over a seven-point charter of demand to the CM, who assured the demands would be looked into and proper action taken.

''The state government will not overlook the interests of cane farmers,'' Mr Yadav said, adding that the problems of the Association would be solved on a priority basis.

Meanwhile, Mr Mishra alleged that by banning sugar export, the union government had created problems for cane farmers.

''Due to this decision, the sugar stock will increase in the country and sugar prices will fall down, which will make sugarmills unable to make the payment of increased cane price.'' He maintained it would be detrimental for cane farmers.

The Assocation urged the CM to request the Centre for withdrawing the decision.

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