Watch: Are Sugarcane Farmers Suffering for Our Sweet Tooth?

Indra Shekhar Singh is in conversation with Professor Sukhpal Singh of IIM-Ahmedabad on several issues that have become the cause of concern for sugarcane farmers.

In this episode of ‘Krishi Ke Baath, Indra Ke Saath’, Indra Shekhar Singh discusses various issues concerning sugarcane farmers, economy centred on the crop and its impact on rural India, particularly in the wake of the Modi government’s recent announcement that it is giving the best FRP (fair and remunerative prices) ever to farmers on sugarcane. The government has hiked the price of sugarcane per quintal by Rs 5, stating that it will benefit nearly 5 crore sugarcane farmers in the country.

However, the statement by the government needs to be qualified, for it is not just the price that is the cause of concern for sugarcane farmers. In several instances, sugarcane farmers have to wait for years after supplying the produce to sugar mills to be remunerated. The arrears of this kind across the country run into several crores, with no signs of mills paying farmers faster.

Indra Shekhar Singh will discuss these issues and various aspects of the sugarcane economy with Professor Sukhpal Singh of IIM-Ahmedabad. Farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait and Yudhvir Singh also shed light on politics centred around sugarcane farmers in western Uttar Pradesh.