LS Members seek fair price for sugarcane

New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) Members in the Lok Sabha today demanded fixing the procurement cost of sugarcane at Rs 125-130 per quintal and immediate payment of outstanding dues worth Rs 2000 crore to the cane growers of Uttar Pradesh.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the lower House, Ramji Lal Suman (SP) said millers were not ready to lift cane at more than Rs 50 per quintal, whereas 80 per cent of farmers had grown the crop after taking bank loans which, if not paid, would land them into acute distress.

In spite of promises made by the state government to release outstanding payment of Rs 2,000 crore, first by August-end and then by November 15, not a paisa has been paid to the farmers, he added.

Supporting the demand, his party colleague Harikewal Prasad said farmers were demanding setting the price at Rs 125-130 per quintal as against Rs 110 per quintal being paid by government sugar mills.

Hansraj Ahir (BJP), while speaking on the issue of mixing of ethanol with petrol, said if the Petroleum Ministry directive for mandatory 5 per cent mixing of ethanol in gasoline was implemented across the country, it will not only save foreign exchange on the extensive import of fuel but also help sugar mills and farmers in the bargain.

When millers earn additional income from making the alochol they would also be in a position to pay a better price to sugarcane growers, he added.

UNI