Lok Sabha Question No. 2624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Dues of Sugarcane Farmers
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Matheswaran V S, Shri Deepender Singh Hooda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2624 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7TH AUGUST, 2024

## DUES OF SUGARCANE FARMERS

## 2624 SHRI DEEPENDER SINGH HOOD A SHRI MATHESWARAN V S :

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION BRim w++, am  aT liT#qfjq fq6w IHt be pleased to state:

- (a) the payment overdue  of  sugarcane farmers or the total dues owed to farmers by sugar mills during each of the last ten years including the current year, State-wise including Tamil Nadu:
- (b) whether the sugar mills  are not paying the dues of  sugarcane farmers year-by-year  and as a result, the outstanding amount is continuously increasing;
- (C) the reasons for  increasing arrears and unprecedented delay in payment to sugarcane farmers:
- (d) whether the Government proposes to introduce stringent law against the sugar mill WhICh doesn't pay the farmers dues on time and if  so, the details thereof;  and
- (e) the details of the steps taken/to be taken by the Government so as to  ensure the pa)'ment of dues by sugar mills  to the sugarcane  farmers on time along with  the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMB}LANIYA}

- (a): As per information received  from State Governments, total overdues of sugarcane farmers b) sugar mills during the last 10 years including current year, year-wise and state-wise including Tamil Nadu is at Annexure I
- (b) &  (c): Payment of  cane dues to farmers is a continuous  process and cane payment by  the sugar mills to the farmers are being made on regular basis resulting in reduction of cane dues. Details of cane price payment made during last 3 sugar seasons are at Annexure ll.

(d): The powers have been delegated and vested with  the State Governments/Us for  monitoring the cane price payment position of sugar factories on periodical basis and in case of delay in pd)'ments: suitable action  is taken by them.

(e): With a view to facilitate payments of outstanding dues to the sugarcane farmers, the Central Government has taken various steps in the form  of policy  interventions from time to time as and \\'hen required, which are as under

- 1) Central Government fixes  Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of  sugarcane ha\'ing regard to the factors mentioned  in  Clause 3(1) of  the Sugarcane (Control)  Order,  1966
- 11) Minimum  Selling Price of sugar was fixed to prevent fall  in ex-mill  prices of sugar & accumulation  of  cane arrears (initially at ? 29/ kg  w.e.f  07-06-2018:  revised to ? 31/kg w.e.f.  14-02-2019),
- 111) Financial assistance of more than ? 18,000 crore extended to mills resulting in clearance of farmers- dues during last 10 years.
4. IV) Diversion of surplus sugar to production of ethanol led to improved financial conditions of sugar mills.  As a result, they are able to  clear cane dues early

As a result  of these measures, significant  reduction has been seen in cane price  arrears.  About 99.9% of  cane dues up to  sugar seasons (Oct -  Sept) 2021-22 have been cleared. For the pre\-ious sugar season 2022-23,  more than 99.6%  cane dues have been cleared and in the current Sugar Season 2023-24, about 95.3 % cane dues are cleared as on 31.07.2024.

88888

## ANNEXURE I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.2624 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 07.08.2024 IN THE LOK SABHA

| Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    | Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    | Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    | Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    | Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    | Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    | Status as on 31.07.2024( Figures in Cr. Rs.)                                                                                                    |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise | Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise | Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise | Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise | Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise | Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise | Statementshowing total overdue of sugarcane farmers by sugar mills during the last 10 years including the current year, year-wiseand state-wise |
| State                                                                                                                                           | 2018-19 & earlier                                                                                                                               | 2019-20                                                                                                                                         | 2020-21                                                                                                                                         | 202 1-22                                                                                                                                        | 2022-23                                                                                                                                         | 2023-24                                                                                                                                         |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                   | 115                                                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 37                                                                                                                                              | 213                                                                                                                                             | 3440                                                                                                                                            |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                                                     | 72                                                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                                                               | 56                                                                                                                                              | 32                                                                                                                                              | 25                                                                                                                                              | 188                                                                                                                                             |
| Karnataka                                                                                                                                       | 4                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                 |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                                         | 54                                                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 1090                                                                                                                                            |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                      | 51                                                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 74                                                                                                                                              |
| Bihar                                                                                                                                           | 68                                                                                                                                              | 39                                                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | 66                                                                                                                                              |
| Har)'ana                                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | 26                                                                                                                                              |
| Punjab                                                                                                                                          | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 28                                                                                                                                              | O                                                                                                                                               | 117                                                                                                                                             |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                  | 6                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | 18                                                                                                                                              |
| Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                     | 131                                                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 17                                                                                                                                              |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                  | 22                                                                                                                                              | 36                                                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 18                                                                                                                                              |
| Telangana                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                                                               |
| Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | 65                                                                                                                                              |
| Odisha                                                                                                                                          | 3                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                                               | O                                                                                                                                               | ()                                                                                                                                              |
| Total                                                                                                                                           | 526                                                                                                                                             | 75 1                                                                                                                                            | 60                                                                                                                                              | 97                                                                                                                                              | 238                                                                                                                                             | 5188                                                                                                                                            |

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2624 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 07.08.2024 IN THE LOK SABHA

gAiA

| Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    | Status as on 31.07.2024(Figures in Cr. Rs.)    |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment | Statement showing status of Cane Price Payment |
|                                                | SS 2021-22                                     | SS 2021-22                                     | SS 2021-22                                     | SS 2022-23                                     | SS 2022-23                                     | SS 2022-23                                     | SS 2023-24                                     | SS 2023-24                                     | SS 2023-24                                     |
| State                                          | Payable                                        | Paid                                           | I Arrear                                       | Payable                                        | Paid                                           | A rrear                                        | Pavablc                                        | Paid                                           | A I'rcal'                                      |
| Uttar Pradesh                                  | 35201                                          | 35164                                          | 37                                             | 3805 1                                         | 37838                                          | 213                                            | 35910                                          | 32470                                          | 3440                                           |
| Maharashtra                                    | 43313                                          | 43281                                          | 32                                             | 35532                                          | 35507                                          | 25                                             | 36758                                          | 365 70                                         | 1 88                                           |
| Kamataka                                       | 20632                                          | 20632                                          | 0                                              | 19748                                          | 19748                                          | 0                                              | 19890                                          | 19825                                          | 65                                             |
| Gujarat                                        | 3891                                           | 3891                                           | 0                                              | 3703                                           | 3703                                           | O                                              | 3462                                           | 2372                                           | 1090                                           |
| Tamil Nadu                                     | 3543                                           | 3543                                           | 0                                              | 4562                                           | 4562                                           | 0                                              | 3033                                           | 2959                                           | 74                                             |
| Bihar                                          | 1578                                           | 1578                                           | 0                                              | 2189                                           | 2189                                           | 0                                              | 2371                                           | 2305                                           | fIA                                            |
| Haryana                                        | 2727                                           | 2727                                           | 0                                              | 2862                                           | 2862                                           | 0                                              | 2410                                           | 2384                                           | 26                                             |
| Punjab                                         | 2308                                           | 2280                                           | 28                                             | 2573                                           | 2573                                           | 0                                              | 2474                                           | 2357                                           | 117                                            |
| Madh\,'a Pradesh                               | 1839                                           | 1839                                           | 0                                              | 1771                                           | 1771                                           | O                                              | 2 140                                          | 2122                                           | 18                                             |
| Uttarakhand                                    | 1531                                           | 1531                                           | 0                                              | 1697                                           | 1697                                           | ()                                             | 1133                                           | IIla                                           | 17                                             |
| Andhra Pradesh                                 | 662                                            | 662                                            | 0                                              | 660                                            | 660                                            | 0                                              | 581                                            | 563                                            | 18                                             |
| Telangana                                      | 662                                            | 662                                            | 0                                              | 805                                            | 805                                            | O                                              | 583                                            | 579                                            | 4                                              |
| Chhattisgarh                                   | 264                                            | 264                                            | 0                                              | 266                                            | 266                                            | 0                                              | 302                                            |                                                | 65                                             |
| Others                                         | 120                                            | 120                                            | 0                                              | 75                                             | 75                                             | O                                              | 89                                             | 89                                             | ()                                             |
| Total                                          | 118271                                         | 118174                                         | 97                                             | 114494                                         | 114256                                         | 238                                            | 111136                                         | 105948                                         | 5 188                                          |