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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 9:20:26 am

Centre pushes for early sugarcane crushing

Mills seek special subsidy Kolhapur: Despite an estimated 30-40 lakh tonnes of sugar being available in excess of domestic demand, the Centre is stepping up efforts to keep sugar prices under control. The Union Food Ministry has urged Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka to advance the 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season so that fresh sugar reaches the market before the existing stock is exhausted. Sugar mills, however, say an early start will come at a cost. They are seeking special...

Centre pushes for early sugarcane crushing

Mills seek special subsidy Kolhapur: Despite an estimated 30-40 lakh tonnes of sugar being available in excess of domestic demand, the Centre is stepping up efforts to keep sugar prices under control. The Union Food Ministry has urged Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka to advance the 2026-27 sugarcane crushing season so that fresh sugar reaches the market before the existing stock is exhausted. Sugar mills, however, say an early start will come at a cost. They are seeking special financial assistance to compensate for the likely fall in sugar recovery and the reduction in cane weight that could result from crushing in October. India produced around 280 lakh tonnes of sugar last season. The season began with stocks of nearly 50 lakh tonnes, while annual domestic consumption is estimated at around 280 lakh tonnes. With about 35 lakh tonnes expected to remain in stock by September 30, the Centre wants the new season’s production to start flowing into the market without waiting for the traditional crushing cycle. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka account for nearly 80 per cent of India’s sugar production. The Union Food Ministry has therefore written to the chief ministers of the three states, asking them to bring forward the start of the 2026-27 crushing season. The push comes against the backdrop of a sharp movement in sugar prices. Ex-mill prices had earlier climbed to around Rs 68 per kg, pushing retail prices close to Rs 80 per kg. Following a series of measures by the Centre, ex-mill prices have since declined to around Rs 41 per kg. Yet, the government is looking at further measures to bring prices down and ensure that stocks move into the market. One such measure has been the approval of imports of one million tonnes of raw sugar. Since initial applications covered only around eight lakh tonnes, the Centre has invited applications for the remaining quota. It has also reduced the permissible stockholding limit for traders from 400 tonnes to 200 tonnes. The next major point of discussion will be the meeting convened by Union Food and Public Distribution Secretary Sanjeev Chopra with the sugar industry in New Delhi on September 8. The secretaries of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have also been invited. West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA) president B. B. Thombre said the Centre was pushing for crushing to begin around the middle of October. Traditionally, most mills in Maharashtra begin operations around November 15, largely because sugarcane harvesting labour becomes available only after Diwali. The industry is, however, willing to explore an early start between October 20 and 25. But early crushing could have significant implications. According to Thombre, sugar recovery could fall by around 1.5 percentage points, while the weight of sugarcane supplied by farmers could decline by 10-15 per cent. The industry will therefore seek special assistance for cane crushed between October 15 and November 15. At the September 8 meeting, it plans to demand a subsidy of Rs 500 per tonne for sugar mills and Rs 300 per tonne directly for sugarcane farmers.

BJP’s first ‘Samrat’ in Bihar; oath today

Choudhary becomes third ‘imported’ BJP leader to get highest post after Himanta Biswa Sarma and Basavraj Bommai

Patna: The phase of political uncertainty and intense maneuvering that gripped Bihar over the past few days has finally come to an end. Following the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Bharatiya Janata Party moved swiftly to bring clarity by electing Samrat Choudhary as the leader of its legislative party. It is now confirmed that Choudhary will be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of the state on Wednesday and for the first time in Bihar, a BJP Chief Minister will take the oath.


A crucial meeting of the BJP legislature party was held on Tuesday at the party's state headquarters in Patna under the leadership of Union Agriculture Minister and state observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting was attended by key leaders, including Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. After detailed deliberations, Choudhary was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Legislative Party, a decision formally announced by Chouhan.


After being elected as the leader of the legislative party, Choudhary, in his first response, reaffirmed his commitment to service and dedication. He told reporters that he has been an active political worker for the past three decades, and although responsibilities may change over time, his core objective has always been to serve Bihar, and will continue to remain so.


Choudhary also pledged to work towards taking Bihar to new heights of development and good governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the party organisation. He described former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's tenure as a source of inspiration, expressing confidence that the state would continue to progress under his guidance.


Wide Spectrum

Samrat Choudhary's political journey reflects a wide spectrum of experience. He began his career with the Rashtriya Janata Dal before moving through the Janata Dal (United) and eventually joining the BJP. Within the BJP, he has held significant organisational and governmental roles, steadily emerging as a prominent political figure.


Coming from a deeply political background, Choudhary has been closely associated with public life since his early years. His father, Shakuni Choudhary, is a well-known name in Bihar politics, having served seven terms as both MLA and MP. His mother, Parvati Devi, also represented the Tarapur assembly constituency as an MLA. Samrat Choudhary himself secured victory from Tarapur in the Munger district in the last assembly elections.


Entering active politics in 1990, Choudhary took oath as Agriculture Minister in the Bihar government in 1999. He was subsequently elected as an MLA from the Parbatta constituency in 2000 and 2010, and in 2010, he was appointed Chief Whip of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.


His role within the BJP gained significant momentum after 2018. In 2019, he was appointed state vice president and gradually rose to become one of the party's key faces in Bihar. In 2023, he was made the state president of the BJP. When Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA after breaking away from the Mahagathbandhan, Choudhary was entrusted with the dual responsibilities of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, an unprecedented move in the state's political history.


Born as Rakesh Kumar on November 16, 1968, Samrat Choudhary has carried forward his father's political legacy and has now ascended to the highest executive office in the state.


Earlier, Nitish Kumar had submitted his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain. Reflecting on his tenure, he stated that since 2005, the state had witnessed the establishment of the rule of law and significant development across sectors such as education, healthcare, roads, electricity, and agriculture.


With this transition, Bihar's politics has entered a new phase, and all eyes are now on the direction and governance style of the government to be led by Samrat Choudhary.


After leaving Lok Bhavan, Samrat Chaudhary visited the residence of BJP national president Nitin Naveen, where he was welcomed with sweets. The two leaders also held an extended discussion.

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