Patna, Dec 9: The Bihar government has taken a major step toward reviving the state’s sugarcane sector. On Monday, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit chaired a high-level meeting to discuss reopening closed sugar mills, setting up new ones, and increasing farmers’ income.
Senior officials from multiple departments attended the meeting. Their main focus was to create policies and action plans that would help sugarcane farmers get better returns and generate more employment across the state.
Narmadeshwar Lal, Principal Secretary of the Sugarcane Industry Department, presented the current situation of both operational and closed sugar mills in Bihar. After reviewing the details, the Chief Secretary instructed officials to examine all documents related to existing and proposed mills and prepare a detailed report for the committee’s next meeting.
The committee is headed by the Chief Secretary and includes top officials from Finance, Industry, Cooperation, Sugarcane Industry, and Agriculture departments. The government may also rope in national and international experts whenever needed.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Sugarcane Cultivators’ Association met Sugarcane Industry Minister Sanjay Kumar and Sugarcane Commissioner Anil Jha. They submitted a memorandum demanding that sugarcane be priced at ₹600 per quintal this season. They also called for strict implementation of the Sugarcane Act, timely payments to farmers, installation of weighing machines near mills, subsidised fertilizers and seeds, a fixed sugarcane supply calendar, and training programmes to promote modern and quality cultivation.
Responding to the demands, the Sugarcane Industry Minister said discussions with mill owners will be held soon and that “appropriate decisions will be taken in the best interest of farmers.”
