Sugar ndash a bittersweet story for south Gujarat farmers

  • | Monday | 1st April, 2019

Against our yearly maximum demand of 250 lakh tonne, we produced 320 lakh tonne last year and this year too the production is likely to cross 325 lakh tonnes. We already have inventory of about 75 lakh tonnes of last year and another same quantity will be added to it. Surat: Sugar is once again a sour story for sugarcane farmers of Gujarat. Under WTO Agri commodity Open General Licences (OGL) foreign sellers sell their product at Rs 2,600-2,700 tonne in India. “Our government needs to take few urgent steps to stop this or else farmer will suffer even next year,” Patel said.

Surat: Sugar is once again a sour story for sugarcane farmers of Gujarat. For the second year in succession and, in all probability the coming year too , consistent over production and international market selling sugar at cheap rates has made India a dumping ground only.On the last day of the financial year, majority of the sugar cooperatives declared rates between Rs 2,300 to Rs 3,000, against last year rates of Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,100.Samir Bhakta, chairman Madhi Sugar Cooperative said, “There has been consistent over production for the last two years. Against our yearly maximum demand of 250 lakh tonne, we produced 320 lakh tonne last year and this year too the production is likely to cross 325 lakh tonnes. We already have inventory of about 75 lakh tonnes of last year and another same quantity will be added to it. So, it is very clear that rates will continue to remain low.”The central government has declared Rs 2,900-3,100 as rates per tonne for sale of sugar in the market .President of Gujarat Farmer Samaj and a sugarcane farmer himself, Jayesh Patel said, “On one side we have over production and on the other side international rates are Rs 2100-2200 per tonne. Under WTO Agri commodity Open General Licences (OGL) foreign sellers sell their product at Rs 2,600-2,700 tonne in India. After adding transport cost rates that local farmer get are naturally low,” he added.Sugarcane is a three-year cycle and production is likely to remain the same even next year with same area of cultivation, he said. “Our government needs to take few urgent steps to stop this or else farmer will suffer even next year,” Patel said.

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