NewDelhi : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved several measures involving total assistance of over Rs. 5500 crore to support the sugar sector by way of offsetting cost of cane and to facilitate export of sugar from the country thereby improving liquidity of the industry enabling them to clear cane price arrears of farmers:
To provide assistance to sugar mills by defraying expenditure towards internal transport, freight, handling and other charges to facilitate export during the sugar season 2018-19 @ Rs. 1000/MT for the mills located within 100 kms from the ports, @ Rs. 2500/MT for the mills located beyond 100 kms from the port in the coastal states and @ Rs. 3000/MT for mills located in other than coastal states or actual expenditure, whichever is lower. The total expenditure on this account would be about Rs.1375 crore which will be borne by Government.
Meanwhile, in order to help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers, the Government has decided to provide financial assistance @ of Rs. 13.88 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2018-19 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane. The assistance shall be provided to only those mills which fulfil the conditions as stipulated by Department of Food & Public Distribution. The total expenditure on this account would be about Rs.4163 crore which will be borne by Government.
On the other hand, to ensure payment of sugarcane dues of farmers, both the assistance would be credited directly into the accounts of farmers on behalf of sugar mills against cane price dues payable to farmers against FRP including arrears relating to previous years and subsequent balance, if any, would be credited to mill’s account. Assistance shall be provided to those mills which will fulfil the eligibility conditions as decided by the Government.