LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government claimed on Saturday that it has cleared over 84% dues of nearly 45 lakh sugarcane farmers of the state, making it the highest and fastest payment in a season in the past 50 years.
The total amount given to the cane farmers in the past four years is approximately Rs 1,42,650 crore, a cane development department release said, adding that the earning to the farmers is at least Rs 3,200 per quintal.
“As many as 120 sugar mills were functional in the 2020-2021 crop season. They have procured 1,028 lakh tons of sugarcane worth Rs 33,025 crore. Against the target, dues to the tune of Rs 27,465 crore have been cleared. Also, 53 mills have cleared 100% dues,” an official said.
The cane crushing season this time started in October 2020 and continued till July 2021.
Additional chief secretary, cane development, Sanjay Bhoosreddy said: “This is the highest and fastest payment made by any government in the past 50 years.
“What adds to the achievement is that the record payment has been made despite the decline in the institutional procurement of sugar – the main by-product generated from the sugar mills. And, the process for the disbursement of the remaining Rs 5,560 crore is underway and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued instructions to clear the dues at the earliest,” Bhoosreddy added.
ACS Bhoosreddy attributed the achievement to a host of measures undertaken by the department, including tagging cane products other than sugar — molasses, bagasse and press mud.
Besides, ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses or sugarcane juice and that used for sanitizer production were also tagged for payment of cane price. In fact, cane price payment got accelerated due to an increase in ethanol production and sale.
After coming to power in 2017, the BJP government created an escrow account, which was operated jointly by the mill representative and district cane officer/senior cane development inspector.
After coming to power in 2017, the BJP government created an escrow account, which was operated jointly by the mill representative and district cane officer/senior cane development inspector.
As per rules, 85% money received in the account was kept for farmer payment. This resulted in arresting diversion of money for purposes other than cane payment.
As on August 31,the total stocks of sugar with the mills was approximately 47 lakh tonnes with an estimated value of Rs 14,982 crore. Even the mills which have pending dues have sugar stock worth Rs 6,297 crore.
“So, the payment of the remaining outstanding of Rs 5,560 crore shouldn’t be difficult, but it will depend on the clearance of the stock,” said a cane department official.
The above news was originally posted on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
