Pralhad Joshi Urges Karnataka CM to Grant Relief to Sugarcane Farmers
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi urges Karnataka CM to implement State Advised Price (SAP) and address grievances of sugarcane growers regarding mill practices.
In a significant move to protect the livelihood of agricultural workers, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, has formally reached out to Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The Union Minister is seeking urgent relief measures for the state's sugarcane growers, most notably the implementation of a State Advised Price (SAP).
The intervention follows a high-level meeting held in New Delhi on October 12, where representatives of sugarcane farmers from Karnataka voiced serious grievances regarding the current practices within the sugar industry.
Demands for State Advised Price (SAP)
A central component of Joshi's request is the introduction of an SAP. He pointed out that several other Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana, already announce their own advised prices to ensure farmers receive fair compensation.
The Union Minister noted that farmers in Karnataka are specifically demanding a price that exceeds the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) set by the Central Government. He also highlighted that in Tamil Nadu, special assistance of Rs 709.5 per MT is being provided to support the sector, suggesting that Karnataka should similarly evaluate the feasibility of an SAP to ensure remunerative returns for its growers.
Addressing Alleged Malpractices in Sugar Mills
Beyond pricing, the letter highlights several systemic issues that farmers claim are adversely affecting their financial stability. The primary concerns raised by the farming community include:
- Under-reporting of sugar recovery: Allegations that sugar mills are not accurately reporting the amount of sugar extracted from the cane.
- Weighment discrepancies: Concerns regarding the accuracy of the scales used to weigh sugarcane at the mills.
- Mechanical harvesting deductions: Disputes over the weight deductions applied to cane harvested using machinery.
Proposed Solutions for Transparency
To combat these issues, Pralhad Joshi has proposed a series of corrective actions for the Karnataka state authorities to undertake:
- Independent Verification: Establishing independent assessment mechanisms for sugar recovery figures and potentially setting up recovery-testing facilities or check stations in major sugarcane-growing hubs.
- Equipment Calibration: Directing competent agencies to conduct periodic inspections and calibration of weighbridges at sugar mills to ensure precise measurements.
- Review of Deductions: Re-evaluating the current practice of deducting approximately eight per cent of the weight from mechanically harvested cane, ensuring such deductions are justified through consultation with both mills and farmer representatives.
To ensure a thorough investigation into these matters, a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Professor Ramesh Chand, a former member of NITI Aayog, to examine the specific issues raised by the farmers.