New Delhi: Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey has said that the government is considering a proposal to increase the minimum sale price of sugar from Rs 31 per kg to help farmers pay cane arrears of about 22 thousand crores. He said that the measures being taken by the government will ensure prompt payment of cane dues in sufficient quantity to the farmers.

Pandey told presspersons that we have received suggestions from the state governments on this matter. Even the Policy Commission has recommended an increase. We are looking into this matter. We will plan by adopting a balanced approach in the interest of both farmers and consumers. However, the official did not say how much the price would be increased. However, a task force constituted by the Policy Commission on Sugarcane and Sugar Industry has recommended a lump sum increase of Rs 2 per kg.

The possibility of increase is also because the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices has recommended raising the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane by Rs 10 per quintal to Rs 285 for the year 2020-21. Last year, the government increased the price of sale by sugar mills to wholesale customers by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 31 per kg.

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