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Maharashtra: Report urges CM Devendra Fadnavis to ban sugarcane crop

Nearly 1.5 lakh farmers grow sugarcane here.

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The regional administration has submitted a report to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, recommending bringing a ban on sugarcane cultivation in Marathwada region of the state. Sugarcane is grown on about three lakh hectares of land in Marathwada and requires 196 lakh liters of water per hectare.

Nearly 1.5 lakh farmers grow sugarcane here.

A pivot to cultivating pulses and dal after the ban using water saved on sugarcane can benefit about 22 lakh farmers. All these compound to the suggestion of banning sugarcane cultivation and sugar mills in the report.

However, any move on such a plan can impact the politics of Marathwada and hence, sources say the state government will only take a decision post assembly polls.

Water expert Pradeep Purandare said, "This will be the right decision. A lot of water is consumed by the sugar industry. This decision can reduce the problem of drinking water for people of Marathwada." The region has 64 sugar mills of which 31 are privately owned and rest are run by cooperatives. Most of them are on the verge of closure as water shortage took a toll of production; thanks to tanking groundwater levels in the last four years.

Any outright ban on the price-attractive cash crop is sure to raise stern opposition from farmers and mills. The sugar lobby in Maharashtra is touted of possessing solid political influence. Farmer Jayajirao Suryavanshi said, "Farmers get good sugar money quickly. But if the government guarantee prices for dal and pulses, we might consider cultivation."

Zee Media Newsroom

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