Jayalalithaa demands Rs2500 per ton procurement price for sugarcane

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today demanded that the Tamil Nadu government announce a minimum of Rs2,500 per tonne as the procurement price for sugarcane.

"State government should immediately fix Rs2,500 per tonne of sugarcane as procurement price against the announced rate of Rs1,437," she said during her party's demonstration in Villupuram district to highlight the problems faced by sugarcane farmers in the state.

Claiming that the procurement price for sugarcane in other states was much higher than Tamil Nadu, she said, "In 2005-06 sugar production in the state was 21.38 lakh tons while in 2008-09 production came down to 16.16 lakh tons. This figure shows the situation of sugarcane farmers in the state."

Recalling her party's objection to the Centre directing state governments not to fix the advisory price, she said it was the state government's duty to fix the advisory price to ensure continuous cultivation of sugarcane in Tamil Nadu.

"Otherwise, there will not be any cultivation of sugar in the region and the state will be in a situation to import huge amount of sugar, which will also result in increase in sugar price," she said.

Stating that during her tenure, the procurement price was fixed at Rs1,014 per tonne when the sugar price was Rs1,250 per quintal. "Currently when it touched Rs4,000 per quintal, the procurement price is only Rs1,437."