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In distress for the last few years due to poor remunerative prices, sugarcane farmers in Andhra Pradesh have asked the Central and State governments to determine the cane price as per the recommendations of Prof MS Swaminathan committee.
The committee had recommended that the farmers must get an income 50 per cent over and above the cost of production to make farming an attractive proposition.
‘Revive advisory panel’
The farmers have asked the State Government to revive the defunct Advisory Committee to recommend State Advisory Price (SAP) in order to bail them out.
Stating that sugarcane had become unviable in the last 10 years, the Federation of Sugarcane Growers’ Associations put the cost of production at ₹1.33 lakh an acre or ₹4,450 a tonne. Cost of labour and harvesting had become turned dearer, constituting one-third of the total cost of production.
About 37 factory-level associations in Andhra Pradesh are members of the federation.
Help recover cost
“Compare this with the price of ₹2,400 a tonne we get for this season as against the cost of production of ₹4,450 an acre,” NSV Sharma, Secretary of the Federation, told BusinessLine.
With an average production of 30 tonnes an acre, farmers get about ₹72,000 an acre, leaving them in huge debts. “The method followed by Commission for Agricultural Costs and Pricesto ascertain the costs is faulty. Forget about making it remunerative, at least help us recover costs,” he said.
Tripartite committee
The federation wants the government to hold tripartite meetings annually with representatives of farmers, industry and the government to resolve several knotty issues.
Besides bringing in high-yielding varieties, the government should promote mechanisation to address the labour shortage.
“Besides bearing harvest and transportation costs, companies must share profits they earn on by-products,” the federation leader said.
He said allowing import of raw sugar will indirectly harm the interests of sugar farmers. It could further bring pressure on the price they are getting, he felt.
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