Cane arrears to farmers at Rs 13,899 crore as on March 21

Sugar mills owe Rs 13,899 crore to sugarcane growers as of March 21 of the current marketing year ending September. Mills in Uttar Pradesh have maximum cane price arrear at Rs 5,136 crore, followed by Karnataka Rs 2,539 crore and Maharasthra Rs 2,348 crore. As on March 21, 2018, out of total cane dues payment of Rs 55,553 crore for 2017-18 season, an amount of Rs 41,654 crore has been cleared and Rs 13,899 crore is pending. Liquidity position of mills has been affected due to downward trend in sugar prices in view of higher production in the 2017-18 marketing year (October-September). This has resulted in delay in cane payment to growers. The mill owners are finding it difficult to pay the cane prices to the farmers on time due to decrease in sugar price,” he said in a separate reply. The Maharashtra government has issued notice to 228 sugar mills for recovery of cane payment dues to farmers.