Kolhapur, Maharashtra: President of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and former MP, Raju Shetti, has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging an increase in the minimum sale price (MSP) of sugar to Rs 40 per kg, reported The Times of India.
This request comes in light of concerns raised over the government’s decision to reduce ethanol production from sugar cane syrup.
The MSP, introduced in 2018, serves the purpose of ensuring millers receive consistent and adequate returns to compensate farmers for their sugar cane.
Shetti highlighted the dual impact of the decision to curtail ethanol production from sugarcane juice/sugar syrup. Firstly, millers who have invested substantial amounts in ethanol production would face financial setbacks. Secondly, farmers would not receive the sugarcane price on time.
“We urge the government to increase the selling price of sugar to enable millers to fulfill their obligations to farmers and offset the financial losses incurred due to the reduction in ethanol production,” stated Shetti.
