The government today reviewed the prices and availability of sugar in domestic market in the backdrop of strong industry demand for allowing exports. An empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on food, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, however, did not take any decision in this regard due to the absence of three key ministers -- Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar , Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Food Minister K V Thomas. "Sugar was...
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Labour shortage hits jute mills in West Bengal by Jayajit Dash
After sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh, it’s now the turn of jute mills in West Bengal to reel under shortage of labour. This has forced many jute mills to reduce their production hours and go for production cuts. The 52 working jute mills in West Bengal employ around 400,000 workers and the labour shortfall is about 30 per cent. “The workers are more interested in getting engaged in different government schemes like...
More »Centre allows sugar export of 5-lakh tonnes by Gargi Parsai
It will have no impact on domestic prices, says Pawar Union Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that the government will allow export of 5 lakh tonnes of sugar under Open General Licence by the end of this month after working out the modalities. All sugar mills would be allowed to take advantage of higher domestic sugar production and high global sugar prices.Mr. Pawar also announced a hike...
More »Sugarcane farmers see ploy in surplus crop forecast by Pupul Chatterjee
Even as the state sugar commissionerate has predicted a surplus sugarcane crop this year, farmers have a different take. They allege that this is a “ploy by co-operatives and the commissionerate” so that defunct sugar mills can be started again. Also, sugar prices are likely to see a sharp fall in the wake of the forecast. As per the official figures, Maharashtra is likely to produce around 8.5 million tonnes of...
More »Sugar output estimate raised to 24.5 mt
The government on Wednesday hiked the sugar production estimate for the 2010-11 marketing year (October-September) to 24.5 million tonnes (mt) from 23 mt earlier. "This will be the best year in terms of sugar production and productivity... The production this year will be in the range of 24-24.5 million tonnes," food, PDS and civil supplies minister Sharad Pawar said. The current government estimate is virtually on par with that of the...
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