In the current 2022-23 marketing year, about 3,353 lakh tonnes of sugarcane worth ₹1,11,366 crore has been purchased by sugar mills. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

The Centre on June 28 announced a ₹10 per quintal hike in sugarcane FRP, which is the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers, to ₹315 per quintal for the 2023-24 season starting October.

The decision to increase the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The FRP of sugarcane has been fixed at ₹315 per quintal for the 2023-24 season, up 3.28% from current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September).

“The Cabinet has increased the FRP of sugarcane to ₹315 per quintal for 2023-24. Last year, FRP of sugarcane was ₹305 per quintal,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

The Prime Minister has always been with “annadata” and the government has given priority to agriculture and the farmers, he said.

The FRP of sugarcane, which stood at ₹210 per quintal in 2014-15 season, has now been increased to ₹315 per quintal for 2023-24 season, Mr. Thakur added.

In the current 2022-23 marketing year, about 3,353 lakh tonnes of sugarcane worth ₹1,11,366 crore has been purchased by sugar mills.

During 2013-14, the mills had procured sugarcane worth ₹57,104 crore.

Mr. Thakur highlighted that under the Modi government, there are no protests from cane farmers over pending dues.

According to an official statement, the CCEA has approved the FRP of sugarcane for 2023-24 marketing year at ₹315 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%.

The CCEA also decided to provide a premium of ₹3.07 per quintal for each 0.1% increase in recovery over and above 10.25% and reduction in FRP by ₹3.07 per quintal for every 0.1% decrease in recovery.

“Further, with a view to protect interest of sugarcane farmers, government has also decided that there shall not be any deduction in case of sugar mills where recovery is below 9.5 per cent. Such farmers will get Rs 291.975 per quintal for sugarcane in ensuing sugar season 2023-24 in place of Rs 282.125 per quintal in current sugar season 2022-23,” the statement said.

The cost of production of sugarcane for the sugar season 2023-24 is ₹157 per quintal. This FRP of ₹315 per quintal at a recovery rate of 10.25% is higher by 100.6% over production cost.

The new FRP would be applicable for purchase of sugarcane from the farmers in the sugar season 2023-24 (starting October, 2023) by sugar mills.

“The sugar sector is an important agro-based sector that impacts the livelihood of about 5 crore sugarcane farmers and their dependents and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills, apart from those employed in various ancillary activities including farm labour and transportation,” the statement said.

The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultations with state governments and other stakeholders.

Farmers load harvested sugarcane crop on a tractor, to be transported to a sugar mill, at a village in Karad.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India, the world’s biggest sugar producer, has extended restrictions for sugar export by one year through October 2023, the government said in a notification late on Friday.

In May, India restricted exports through the end of this month to contain a rise in domestic prices following record exports.

Explained | Why India, world’s largest producer of sugar, has put the brakes on exports

India is expected to produce record sugar crop this year, which could allow New Delhi to allow exports of up to 8 million tonnes, the government and industry official said this month.

The decrease in cultivation of kharif crops is in about nine lakh hectares so far.
| Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA

India’s rice production during the kharif season is likely to fall short of the target of 112 million tonnes (MT) and will reach only 104.99 MT, said the first advance estimate for 2022-23 released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Wednesday.

Overall, the Centre has estimated foodgrain production of 149.92 MT during the kharif season. The decrease in cultivation of kharif crops is in about nine lakh hectares till the end of last week. But the Centre is hopeful of an increase in the production of some crops, particularly in maize and sugarcane.

According to the estimates, the production of rice will be 104.99 MT. In 2020-21, the production was 105.21 MT. The Centre said the production is higher by 4.40 MT than the previous five-year average of kharif rice production of 100.59 MT.

The estimate also puts the production of coarse cereals at 36.56 MT, almost 14 MT less than 2020-21. Maize production may reach 23.10 MT, which could set a record, according to the Centre. The estimate is higher by 3.21 MT than the average maize production of 19.89 MT.

On pulses, the estimate is 8.37 MT, that includes 3.89 MT of tur. Total production of oilseeds is estimated at 23.57 MT. Soyabean production may reach 12.89 MT. Cotton production could be 34.19 million bales (of 170 kg each) and jute and mesta production may reach 10.09 million bales (of 180 kg each), the Centre said.

Sugarcane production is estimated at 465.05 MT, which is also a record. “Total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at 149.92 MT, which is higher by 6.98 MT than the average foodgrain production of 2016-17 to 2020-21,” the Centre said.