Latest news with #andRemunerative
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Sugarcane farmers in T.N. stare at rapid shrinkage in cultivation due to 'unviable' procurement price
Farmers in the Western districts have expressed disappointment over the support price of ₹355 per quintal announced by the Central Government, at a recovery rate of 10.25 % for 2025-26 crushing season, while criticising the State Government for not fulfilling its election promise of raising the procurement price to ₹4,000 per tonne. As per the Centre's announcement, there will be no deduction for recovery below 9.5%; the support price of ₹329.05 per quintal will be maintained. According to an official document, the average recovery rate in Tamil Nadu is 8.64 % only. On its part, the State Government has extended a special incentive of ₹349 per tonne of sugarcane for this crushing season. Yet, the farmers are a worried lot not only because the cost of labour and inputs are rising at a fast pace, but also due to the impact caused to the cane crop by Yellow sugarcane aphid, a major pest causing yellowing and stunting of plants. These plants will yield no recovery and have to be entirely discarded, Jegadeesh, a farmer belonging to Thirumoorthy Nagar said. 'The sugarcane farmers look for transparency on the part of the government in handling of molasses. The cumulative benefit accruing to the government from sugarcane procurement is concealed from the farmers. This is unfair,' Mr. Jegadeesh said. There are tangible indications that farmers are shifting to coconut from sugarcane. Gopalakrishnan (44) of Udumalpet, a third generation sugarcane farmer who used to cultivate the crop in 10 acres, has shifted to coconut cultivation in half the area. 'I have plans to wind up sugarcane cultivation in toto in the coming years, as it has become unviable. There is no way out to continue with sugarcane cultivation in the absence of a minimum procurement price of ₹4,000 per tonne,' Mr. Gopalakrishnan said. As per the calculation of the Central Government, the FRP (Fair and Remunerative Price) for sugar season 2025-26 is 4.41% higher than current sugar season 2024-25. 'In 2024-25, the FRP for sugarcane with a 9.5% sugar recovery rate was ₹3,151 per tonne. Now, the price has been increased by only ₹139 — a mere 4.41%. This quantum of increase is bound to cause drastic decline in sugarcane cultivation in Tamil Nadu,' founder of Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association Easan Murugasamy said. Sugarcane farmers in Tamil Nadu are the worst affected. The procurement price per tonne is ₹4,550 in Gujarat, ₹4,200 in Chattisgarh, ₹3,750 in Maharashtra, and ₹3,490 in Bihar. The command area of 15 lakh acres for the 40 sugar mills has now come down to just five lakh acres over the years in Tamil Nadu due to the disadvantage caused to cultivators, Mr. Murugesan pointed out.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Ramadoss urges Union, T.N. governments to fix FRP for sugarcane at ₹5,000 per tonne
Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss on Thursday (May 1, 2025) urged the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to ensure that farmers receive ₹5,000 per tonne as Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane. In a statement, he said the Union government has announced that during the upcoming sugar season, the FRP for sugarcane with a sugar recovery rate of 10.25% will be ₹3,550 per tonne. For sugarcane cultivated in Tamil Nadu, with a sugar recovery rate of 9.5% or less, the FRP is fixed at ₹3,290 per tonne. In 2024-25, the FRP for sugarcane with a 9.5% sugar recovery rate was ₹3,151 per tonne. Now, the price has been increased by only ₹139 — a mere 4.41%. With the cost of cultivation of sugarcane having increased, this hike is unjust, he said. Dr. Ramadoss also pointed out that farmers' organisations in Tamil Nadu have been demanding that ₹5,500 per tonne be provided as FRP for sugarcane. When the Centre sets a low FRP, State governments would provide incentives to offset the loss for farmers. Last year, the Tamil Nadu government added an incentive of ₹349, resulting in a final procurement price of ₹3,500 per tonne, he said. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to engage in talks with the Centre to fix the procurement price for sugarcane at ₹4,000 per tonne. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government should provide an incentive of ₹1,000 per tonne so that farmers receive a total of ₹5,000 per tonne, he added.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cabinet approves caste-based census
The Union Cabinet has approved the inclusion of caste-based enumeration in the upcoming national census, a decision announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Minister emphasized transparency and accuracy in data collection for informed policymaking. Vaishnaw criticized opposition parties, particularly Congress, for allegedly politicizing the caste census demand without sincere intentions. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Union Cabinet has approved the inclusion of caste-based enumeration in the upcoming national decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by PM Narendra Modi on Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the development during Cabinet briefing, stating that the caste data will be collected in a 'transparent and structured manner' as part of the decennial census exercise. He stressed the importance of accuracy and openness in the enumeration process, adding, 'Caste enumerations should be transparent and included in the census for the sake of informed policymaking.'Vaishnaw also took a swipe at opposition parties, particularly the Congress, accusing them of politicizing the demand for caste census without genuine intent to act on it.'Congress and its alliance partners have used caste-based census only as a political tool. Their focus was never on actual data or welfare,' he upcoming census, already delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now expected to be one of the most comprehensive demographic exercises in India's the Cabinet approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the 2025-26 season at Rs 355 per quintal. This rate will apply from October 1, 2025, and is expected to benefit nearly 5 crore sugarcane farmers across the safeguard farmers whose cane yields lower sugar recovery, the government has also decided that mills where the recovery is below 9.5% will still pay a minimum of ₹329.05 per quintal. 'This move ensures no deduction in payment for low-recovery sugarcane,' Vaishnaw Cabinet also cleared a major infrastructure initiative worth ₹22,864 crore to construct a highway connecting Shillong to Silchar. The project aims to enhance connectivity in the northeastern region, significantly improving travel and trade in Assam and Meghalaya.
