Centre Forms Committee to Address Sugarcane Farmers’ Concerns
Panel Headed by Former NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand to Review Cane Prices, Sugar MSP and Weighment Practices
- Committee formed under former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand
- Panel to review sugarcane farmers’ remunerative returns
- Sugar MSP, recovery testing and weighment practices under scrutiny
- Recommendations to be submitted for government consideration
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th Oct: The Government of India has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Ramesh Chand, former Member of NITI Aayog, to examine concerns raised by sugarcane farmers and recommend measures to address key issues affecting farmers and the sugar industry.
The decision follows a meeting between representatives of sugarcane farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra and the Union Ministers for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The committee will examine demands for higher remunerative returns to sugarcane farmers, taking into account cultivation costs and other relevant factors. It will also review the demand for revising the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar in light of production costs, market realisations and the financial viability of sugar mills.
Focus on Fair Pricing and Transparency
A major part of the committee’s mandate is to assess the mechanisms used to test and report sugar recovery, which determines the amount of sugar obtained from sugarcane. It will examine measures to ensure transparent verification of recovery figures and review the adequacy of calibration, inspection and verification procedures for weighing sugarcane at mills.
The panel will also investigate prevailing practices involving deductions from the weight of mechanically harvested sugarcane. It will assess whether mechanised harvesting results in actual losses, evaluate the financial impact of existing deduction practices on the prices paid to farmers, and consider other related matters where necessary.
Stakeholder Consultation Planned
The committee will consult farmers’ representatives, sugar mill associations, State Governments, experts and other relevant organisations before finalising its recommendations. It has been asked to submit its report with findings and specific recommendations as early as possible for consideration by the competent authority.
Who Is on the Committee?
Prof. Ramesh Chand, an agricultural economist and public policy expert, served as a Member of NITI Aayog from 2015 to 2026. He previously served as Director of the ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research and as a Member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
The committee also includes the Agriculture Commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Joint Secretary (Sugar) in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, and the Joint Secretary (Legal Metrology) in the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The committee’s findings are expected to inform the government’s consideration of sugarcane pricing, sugar-sector costs and measures to improve transparency in weighing and sugar recovery assessment.
