The Centre has announced to set up a high-level committee within a week to address the grievances of sugarcane farmers from Maharashtra and Karnataka. This was decided after Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi held a meeting with delegations of sugarcane farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra in New Delhi today.
The meeting held discussion on various issues concerning sugarcane farmers, including ground-level challenges, discrepancies in recovery figures reported by sugar mills, weighing procedures, wastage, laboratory testing, and crop insurance. With the aim of providing immediate relief to farmers, Union Ministers Chauhan and Pralhad Joshi, made a major announcement regarding the formation of a special high-level joint committee within a week.
This committee will comprise representatives from the Central Government, state governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra, farmers’ organizations, and sugar mills, as well as subject-matter expert scientists. The committee will meticulously examine every technical aspect related to the timing of sugarcane harvesting, scientific recovery parameters, modern laboratory testing systems, and the accuracy of weighing. It will submit its recommendations to the government within a stipulated timeframe.
