Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal has said the government cannot reduce the minimum price at which sugar mills have to purchase sugarcane from farmers and urged the industry to expand product portfolio as well as remain profitable rather than depend on central subsidies. Sugarcane is bought by sugar mills at a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), which is also the minimum selling price fixed by the central government.
Goyal was not in favour of the industry's demand to hike the FRP of the sweetener from the current level of Rs 31 per kg, as it would lead to rise in retail prices. Goyal, who is also the railway and commerce minister, said the government's recent decision to provide Rs 3,500 crore subsidy for exports of 60 lakh tonnes of sugar in the current marketing year 2020-21 (October-September) will help in liquidating surplus sugar stock.
On the industry's demand that the sugarcane purchase price be linked with sugar price realisation, he said it is not practical to reduce the FRP and told the industry leaders to produce more ethanol as well as other bye-products to boost their income. Sugar production of India, the world's second-largest producer after Brazil, rose 61 per cent to 73.77 lakh tonnes till December 15 of the current marketing year that started in October.
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