On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Punjab’s Minister for Agriculture Jathedar Tota Singh met Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Mr Ram Vilas Paswan to discuss problems of the sugar cane growing farmers and get these solved on priority basis. The Agriculture Ministers of various states represented their states during this important meeting.
Giving this information here today the Agriculture Minister Punjab, Jathedar Tota Singh stated that the farmers are being encouraged to grow crops breaking away from the conventional wheat-paddy cycle. This year only 2 percent of sugar cane has been sown. Due to dip in prices of sugar in the international markets, the sugar mills were facing problems. He urged upon the Union Minister to minimize excise duty levied on the sugar mills in the Punjab. At present there are 16 sugar mills in states and these mills own Rs 682 cr to farmers. In India, Rs 19000 cr payments of farmers’ are pending with the government. He added that Punjab government has remitted market fees and rural development fund (RDF) on sugar cane production.