New Delhi : Union cabinet has approved increasing the (FRP) on sugarcane taking it up to Rs 290 per quintal, Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced, adding that it will not impact sugar prices.
“It was decided in a meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the FRP for sugarcane will be increased to Rs. 290 per quintal,” Goyal said.
This is a hike of Rs 5 per quintal. Before this, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane was increased to Rs 285 per quintal in August 2020, a Rs10 increase from Rs 275 per quintal that was fixed in 2019-2020.
The announcement comes amid continuing farmers’ protest, and recent protests in Punjab demanding hike in sugarcane prices. Punjab government, after meetings with protesting farmers, increased sugarcane price in the state to Rs 360 per quintal, giving a raise of Rs 35 per quintal. The decision was accepted by farmers.
On Wednesday morning, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for not increasing sugarcane prices.
Goyal, however, said that dues of sugarcane farmers used to be higher during previous governments, and defended Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying he acted firmly on the issue.
Asked about the Punjab government decision, he said it is a state issue.
“Uttar Pradesh or Punjab, what prices they decide is a state issue. FRP is decided by the center,” he said.
Asked if the hike will also impact sugar prices, the minister said: “Not necessarily”.
“…Since we are also giving support through ethanol production, supporting export… earlier we used the buffer stocks… We don’t see at present any reason for increasing sugar prices. I have not seen any increase in sugar prices in the domestic market,” Goyal added.
