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Title : Need to review the Statutory Minimum Price of Sugarcane.
SHRI RAJU SHETTI (HATKANANGLE): The Government has reduced the SMP of sugarcane as against what was recommended by Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP). Earlier also the Government did not approve the recommendations of CACP on this account. As a result of this sugarcane farmers are not happy. CACP works out the SMP of sugarcane on the basis of cost of cultivation and other costs invested in production of sugarcane. The CACP has recommended a price of Rs 125/- per quintal. This has been reduced to Rs. 107/ per quintal by the Government at 9.5- recovery base.
I request the Government to reconsider its decision and accept the recommendations of CACP in toto. Otherwise sugarcane farmers will stop cultivating sugarcane and will be forced to import sugar from international market at high prices.