Berhampur: The Aska cooperative sugar industries limited (ACSIL) in Ganjam district on Saturday raised the sugarcane price by Rs 290 per tonne this year, up from Rs 2660/tonne it had provided last year. However, the price of Rs 2950/tonne is lower than the Rs 3500/tonne that sugarcane growers in the district have been demanding. They even staged a protest in this regard in front of the factory on Friday, having already rejected the Rs 2900/tonne offer made by factory authorities.“A meeting was held between factory authorities, leaders of the Ganjam district sugarcane growers’ association and district collector Vijay Amruta Kulange here to fix the fresh price of sugarcane,” ACSIL managing director Laxmikant Behera said. “Considering all aspects, including the financial condition of the factory and the cost factor in sugarcane cultivation, the meeting decided to increase sugarcane price by Rs 290 per tonne,” Bipin Bihari Patra, president of the factory managing board, said. He added that it was higher than the fair and remuneration price (FRP) of sugarcane fixed by the government. “The government has fixed the FRP of sugarcane at Rs 2750 per tonne this year,” Patra said.Ganjam district sugarcane growers’ association has agreed to the decision. “We have agreed after considering the financial condition of the factory,” Sameer Pradhan, the association general secretary, said. Pradhan, however, urged the government to provide special package to sugarcane growers who had suffered crop loss in cyclone Titili .

Stay updated with all the Latest Bhubaneswar headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.