PATNA: In a major decision 3 days ahead of the state cabinet’s next meeting at Valmikinagar in West Champaran district which having large-scale production of sugarcane, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced an average Rs 20 per quintal hike in the purchase prices of sugarcane in the state.
Nitish took to Twitter to announce the hike in the purchase rate of sugarcane prices for the crushing season 2021-22.
“The state Government, with the assent of Bihar Sugar Mills Association, has increased the rate of purchase of all varieties of sugarcanes for the crushing season 2021-22 in the interest of the sugarcane farmers. It has been decided to increase the purchase rate of Uttam (best) variety of sugarcane to Rs 335 per quintal from the existing rate of Rs 315 per quintal, the general variety to Rs 315 per quintal from the existing rate of Rs 295 per quintal and the low variety to Rs 285 per quintal from the existing rate of Rs 272 per quintal,” Nitish said in a series of two tweets written in Hindi.
“The state Government, with the assent of Bihar Sugar Mills Association, has increased the rate of purchase of all varieties of sugarcanes for the crushing season 2021-22 in the interest of the sugarcane farmers. It has been decided to increase the purchase rate of Uttam (best) variety of sugarcane to Rs 335 per quintal from the existing rate of Rs 315 per quintal, the general variety to Rs 315 per quintal from the existing rate of Rs 295 per quintal and the low variety to Rs 285 per quintal from the existing rate of Rs 272 per quintal,” Nitish said in a series of two tweets written in Hindi.
Nitish has decided to hold the next meeting of the state cabinet on December 21 at Valmikinagar in West Champaran. The region is dominated by sugarcane farmers.
Earlier on November 20 this year, the CM held a detailed meeting with the officials of the sugarcane industries department and reviewed a presentation on fixation of fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane for the crushing season 2021-22. Despite review, the state government could not announce the new rate of purchasing sugarcane on the same date (Nov 20).
After November 20 review meeting, the CM had asked the sugarcane industries officials to continue the transportation subsidy provided to the sugarcane farmers of Sitamarhi district for carrying their sugarcanes to other sugar mills than the closed Riga sugar mill, even in the current marketing year, like the previous year, so that the sugarcane farmers of the district do not face any kind of inconvenience in transporting their canes to other sugar mills.
After November 20 review meeting, the CM had asked the sugarcane industries officials to continue the transportation subsidy provided to the sugarcane farmers of Sitamarhi district for carrying their sugarcanes to other sugar mills than the closed Riga sugar mill, even in the current marketing year, like the previous year, so that the sugarcane farmers of the district do not face any kind of inconvenience in transporting their canes to other sugar mills.
“Last year, the state government had provided a transportation subsidy to the sugarcane farmers of Sitamarhi district after management of their nearest Riga sugar mill announced that it would not be operating the mill due to some disputes with its workers. Consequently, the state government decided to compensate the extra transportation charges the farmers would bear in carrying their canes to other sugar mills located in the neighbouring districts,” state’s sugarcane industries minister Pramod Kumar told TOI over phone after the CM’s review meeting.
