Pune: Former Member of Parliament Raju Shetti has called on Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi to take urgent steps to stop the sale of sugar at below-market rates in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Shetti warned that the practice could disrupt market stability and harm sugarcane farmers.
In a letter to the Union Minister, Shetti highlighted that sugar factories in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra and certain areas of neighbouring Karnataka were selling sugar at Rs 3,100 per quintal. This price is significantly lower than the prevailing market rate, he said.
“The sugarcane harvesting season has started, and certain mills are selling sugar at Rs 3,100 a quintal as they have quoted low recovery levels. Now, large trading houses are exploiting the opportunity by buying sugar at that reduced price and selling to small-time traders at Rs 3,700 per quintal,” Shetti has written in a letter.
He further explained how the burden eventually falls on consumers. “Consumers are forced to purchase the same sugar at Rs 4,000 per quintal. This malpractice exposes an unethical nexus between factory executives and large traders. While sugar factories claim financial difficulties to justify underpaying sugarcane farmers, consumers end up paying inflated prices,” Shetti said.
Shetti urged the Union Minister to intervene immediately to protect the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers and shield consumers from unjust pricing. He called for decisive action to address the alleged collusion between factory officials and large traders, which he said was driving up sugar prices unfairly.
