Chennai: In a major boost to sugarcane farmers, the state government on Saturday announced an increase of Rs 650 in the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane for 2013-14 fixing it at Rs 2,650 per tonne.
The increased SAP had been fixed in view of the Central government announcing the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane at Rs 2,100 per tonne for the season, a press release from the secretariat said.
Chief minister Jayalalithaa had decided to fix the SAP at Rs 2,650 per tonne including Rs 100 towards transportation cost. For 2012-13, the state government had fixed the SAP at Rs 2,350 per tonne against the Centre’s FRP of Rs 1,700 per tonne, the release said.
The government supports irrigation by offering subsidies. Modernised sugarcane farming technologies will be implemented and the government has also allotted Rs 50 crore to the horticulture department for procuring water soluble fertilisers, the release added.
“The farmers have been hit by drought and the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease had affected them badly and the revision in the SAP for cane sugar is a commendable move, but the farmers need more support from the Centre and state,” said R. Palanivel, a farmer in Pollachi.
TN Vivasaigal Sangam chief and CPM MLA K. Balakrishnan said they were expecting around Rs 3,500 (SAP) for cane. “Usually, the state raises the SAP on par or more than the hike announced by the Centre,” he said.
