Solapur: Sugar season 2019-2020 is around the corner, and cane growers in Maharashtra are yet to receive pending arrears from the last season. According to the reports, 56 sugar mills in the state owe Rs 398 crore to sugarcane farmers. Only in Solapur, sugar mills have to pay Rs 151.75 crore to farmers.
A total of 195 sugar mills participated in the operation this season. According to the Sugar Commissionerate report, the factories have crushed 951.79 lakh tonnes of sugarcane to produce 107.19 lakh tonnes of sugar at a recovery rate of 11.26 per cent.
As per the Sugarcane Control Act, the rule mandates that FRP amount should be deposited to the farmers’ bank accounts within 14 days after the sugarcane harvest is handed over to the factory owners. Still, millers failed to pay the dues. They are citing their inability to pay farmers the actual FRP due to the falling price of sugar and excessive sugar production.
Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner, Mr. Shekhar Gaikwad, said, “Mills have paid 98.38 per cent FRP. The administration is committed to make full FRP payment to sugarcane farmers. We have initiated action against mills to pay pending cane dues.”
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