Cabinet approves assistance of Rs 5.5 per quintal to cane farmers

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved financial assistance of Rs 5.5 per quintal of cane crushed to the mills to clear dues of farmers in the country.

“There is a bumper production of sugarcane this year. In order to offset the cost of cane, the government has decided to give Rs 5.5 per quintal of cane crushed. The assistance will be paid directly to the farmers,” Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said while briefing the media about the Cabinet decisions.

Sugar mills said that they were unable to pay farmers due to a slump in sugar prices in the domestic market.

Prasad said the government has already raised import duty on sugar from 50% to 100% to protect domestic industry besides making export duty zero.