Amid Farmer Protests On Hold, Union Cabinet Raises Sugarcane Prices
Amidst ongoing farmer protests seeking a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Union Cabinet has granted approval for an increase in the fair remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane to Rs 340 per quintal. This decision, announced on Wednesday, aims to ensure fair compensation for sugarcane growers in the upcoming season.
According to a government release, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the FRP of sugarcane for the Sugar Season 2024-25 at Rs 340 per quintal, reflecting an approximately 8 percent increase compared to the current season. The revised FRP will come into effect on October 1 of this year. The hike in sugarcane FRP by Rs 25 is the highest by the Modi-led government since 2014.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, addressing the media, stated that despite global fluctuations in fertilizer prices, the Modi government has ensured substantial subsidies and financial support to alleviate the burden on farmers.
The FRP, serving as a minimum support price for sugarcane growers, aims to guarantee a fair and consistent income from their crops. According to an official statement, the decision will benefit more than 5 crore sugarcane farmers and lakhs of other people involved in the sugar sector.
#WATCH | Union Minister Anurag Thakur says “…It has been decided to fix the price for the upcoming sugarcane season, in the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, to ensure the fair and reasonable price of sugarcane to the farmers by the sugar mills…It has been… pic.twitter.com/3QRlh4e2gd
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2024
However, the government”s decision comes amid continuing farmer protests, particularly in Punjab, near the borders of Haryana and Delhi, where demonstrators are demanding a legal assurance for MSP across all crops. Recent discussions between government officials and farmers” representatives have resulted in no concrete resolution, prolonging the standoff.
Despite the government’s stance on supporting farmers” interests, the central government issued executive orders demanding the suspension of selected accounts and posts associated with the farmers protests on X (formerly known as Twitter), triggering allegations of silencing and suppressing their freedom of speech.
As tensions persist between the government and protesting farmers, the Delhi Chalo march has been put on hold for two days after a 21-year-old farmer, Shubhakaran, was killed in a scuffle with Haryana police on Wednesday. However, the Haryana police denied the death, calling it a rumour. Two other protestors also sustained bullet injuries but were reported to be stable.
