TNSF demands for increase of price per tonne for sugarcane

Madurai, Feb 6 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers''Association (TNSFA) today demanded that the governmentincrease the price per tonne of sugarcane to Rs 3,000, besidesdirecting sugar mills to bear the cutting charges.

N Palanisamy, TNSFA President, told reporters that thepresent price offered by the government -- Rs 1,900 per tonneof sugarcane -- was not enough as the cultivation charges wereexhorbitant.

Stating that as many as 18 public sector and cooperativesugar mills in Tamil Nadu had incurred a total loss of morethan Rs 1,600 crore in the past few years, Palanisamy said themills should be managed by the experts in the field.