No shortage of sugar, won’t allow prices to go up: Ram Vilas Paswan
The country has no shortage of sugar and the government will ensure retail prices of the sweetener remain stable during the ongoing festive season, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Wednesday. At present, retail prices of sugar are ruling firm at Rs 43 per kg, slightly higher than Rs 40 a kg in the year-ago period, as per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry....
Maharashtra estimates sugar production of 7.34 million tonnes this year
Mumbai: India’s top sugar producing state Maharashtra will begin this year’s sugarcane crushing season from 1 November. A cabinet committee on sugar headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the date in Mumbai on Wednesday after a meeting with sugar industry representatives....
Farm loan waiver: Decision to charge sugar mills draws ire
The Maharashtra government's decision to charge Rs 4 per tonne from sugar mills for the Chief Ministers' Relief Fund has not gone down well with the industry as well as farmers leaders, who have raised their objections over such a move. As the objective of CM Relief Fund has been modified to use a portion of it for agri loan waiver scheme, farmers leaders' alleged that Fadnavis is going to...
Maharashtra cane crop reels under white grub pest attack
Sugarcane crop in South and Central Maharashtra, the key growing regions, has suffered extensive damage due to pest attacks, and yields could dip by 10-15 per cent in the twin regions, causing extensive loss to farmers. The Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), which is a premier R&D institution for sugarcane in the country, is tracking the damage. A senior officer at VSI said that crop damage is extensive because of the...
TN sugar sector hits sweet spot after 3 years of bitter harvest
The recent wet spell, it appears, has come as a ray of hope for sugar mills in Tamil Nadu. “Though not immediately, we hope things will look up in the next two years,” said Palani G Periasamy, President, South India Sugar Mills Association (SISMA - TN)....
Maharashtra sugar mills likely to start crushing on November 1
Even as the Centre has issued directives to millers across the country to commence crushing of sugarcane for 2017-18 early in October to tide over any shortage during the festive season, sugar mills in Maharashtra are likely to commence crushing on November 1. Although a final decision is expected at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, a decision to commence the season in November was informally taken by mills at a...
Sugar futures slide 1.44 pc on adequate stocks position
Sugar prices drifted lower by 1.44 per cent to Rs 3,351 per quintal in futures trade today as speculators trimmed positions, triggered by ample stocks at spot market against lower demand. At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, sugar for delivery in October declined by Rs 49, or 1.44 per cent, to Rs 3,351 per quintal with an open interest of 200 lots....
Sugar prices steady on sporadic demand
Sugar prices remained unaltered at the wholesale market in the national capital today following restricted arrivals amidst sporadic demand. Marketmen said small buying support and adequate stocks position mainly kept sweetener prices at overnight levels. ...
Scientists deliberate on issues concerning cane yield, output
COIMBATORE, SEPTEMBER 18: Speakers at the international symposium on ‘Sugarcane Research since Co 205: 100 years and beyond’ stressed the need for a greater thrust on research to improve cane yield and recovery....
Protesting Punjab farmers prevented from entering Chandigarh
The Punjab police today stopped farmers protesting against the non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 100 crore by the state government from entering Chandigarh as they planned to 'gherao' Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's residence. ...