Pralhad Joshi to Meet Sugarcane Farmers on October 12 Over MSP Demand

Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said a meeting with sugarcane farmers would be held in New Delhi on October 12 to discuss their demands, including an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for sugar.

Mr. Joshi made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Friday (October 2). He said the Centre had convened the meeting in response to the farmers’ protest and their demand for better prices.

“We are not dictators. That is why a meeting with farmers has been called,” he said.

Centre to discuss farmers’ demands

The proposed meeting will focus on the demands raised by sugarcane farmers, including the demand for an increase in the MSP for sugar. The announcement comes as the farmers’ protest has brought the issue of prices before the Centre.

Mr. Joshi explained that the MSP for sugar and the price paid to sugarcane growers were separate issues. He said the MSP for sugar had been introduced when market prices fell sharply.

According to Mr. Joshi, the measure prevents sugar from being sold below the prescribed floor price. However, he said an increase in the MSP for sugar would not automatically result in higher payments to sugarcane farmers.

He added that the two prices were not directly linked. The distinction is central to the farmers’ demand because a change in the price floor for sugar would not, by itself, determine the payment received by sugarcane growers.

State role in sugarcane pricing

Mr. Joshi said the Union government was implementing the recommendations of the M.S. Swaminathan Commission. He also said Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were among the major ethanol-producing States.

The Centre was procuring ethanol as part of its policy, he said. The Minister also pointed to the role of State governments in determining payments for sugarcane.

He said State governments had the authority to fix a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane. Karnataka, however, had not fixed an SAP, he alleged.

Mr. Joshi added that the State government would have to provide funds to meet the resulting payment obligations. His remarks placed the question of sugarcane payments within both the Centre’s policy on sugar and ethanol and the State’s authority to set an SAP.

Criticism of Karnataka government

The Minister criticised the Congress-led State government over its handling of farmers’ issues. He cited drought relief, power shortages and the discontinuation of financial assistance under the Kisan Samman scheme.

He alleged that the government had failed to introduce adequate new measures to address farmers’ distress. The allegations were made while the proposed meeting with sugarcane farmers was being announced.

Mr. Joshi also accused the State government of granting permissions for distilleries. He described the move as contrary to the interests of farmers and the public.

Remarks on electoral rolls and politics

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Mr. Joshi criticised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for protesting before the State Election Commission. He alleged that the demonstration was unconstitutional and demanded that a case be registered against the Chief Minister and Cabinet members.

Mr. Joshi said the SIR process was provided for under the law and was yet to be completed. Asked whether he would return to State politics, he said he had no such plans at present.

He said he would continue working at the Centre as long as he had the support of the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Apology after protest remarks

In a related development, Shashikanth Guru of Inchageri Mutt released a video clip conveying the developments pertaining to his meeting with Mr. Joshi and his subsequent remarks during the rally.

He had allegedly made derogatory remarks about Mr. Joshi during the sugarcane farmers protest in Hubballi recently. In the video, he said he regretted making the remarks and took back the words.

Source: The Hindu