While sugarcane farmers continue to suffer in Congress-ruled states like Karnataka & Telangana, the PM Modi-led centre is taking every possible initiative in aid of the farmers.
In a decision that will have far-reaching positive consequences for farmers, the PM Modi-led centre has approved sugar exports and also removed duties on byproducts like Molasses. Shares of major sugar companies have also surged on Monday, November 10, following the development.
But while the centre is farmer sensitive and works sincerely for their betterment, Congress ruled states have never given due importance to their concerns.
Very recently, sugarcane farmers held widespread protest in North Karnataka which concluded after much furor. Similarly, a big section of farmers cultivating sugarcane in Telangana have taken to other crops due to hassles linked to sugarcane cultivation.
On other hand in past couple of years, Congress has always tried to portray BJP led NDA as anti farmer, and in order to substantiate this claim, they have always resorted to lies and deceit. One all knows how farm laws were portrayed in poor light by Congress.
Just some days back, farmers in North Karnataka, particularly Belgavi district were in streets demanding fair pricing and payment of pending sugarcane dues. Farmers, who had backing of several of Kannada organisations, even staged bandh, bringing normal life to a standstill
After much of protest, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah yielded to the agitating farmers. Though he continued to point fingers at centre for all the ills of farmers in his state, his goverment on Friday was forced to announce that the sugar factories have agreed to pay Rs 3250 per tonne of sugarcane and the government would further contribute Rs 50 per tonne, bringing the total to Rs 3,300.
Talking of Telangana, the condition of sugarcane farmers is pathetic which has resulted in steady decline of sugarcane cultivation. Once a thriving crop covering over five lakh acres in 2019, sugarcane farming has now started shrinking and it touched the lowest ever of 82,000 acres, under present Congress rule with farmers shifting to alternative crops.
This further is having a direct impact on sugar industry, leading to factory closures and economic downturn in sugarcane-dependent sectors. Two key sugar mills in Telangana had stopped crushing operations as of Feb 25 which had severely impacted farmers pushing them toward crops like paddy and maize.
There can be no better farmer-sensitive government at the centre other than the PM Modi-led NDA government. Significantly to support sugarcane farmers, the centre has already allowed export of 1.5 million tonne (MT) of sugar for the 2025-26 sugar season that started from October. The Union Food Ministry has also decided to remove 50 per cent export duty on molasses. This is going to greatly benefit the sugarcane farmers.
Honour and welfare of farmers in the country have always been a top priority of the PM Modi-led NDA government.
