Govt gives millers 7 more days to sell sugar
The government has partially relaxed norms for millers to sell non-levy sugar quota for March in the open market.
This it did by giving them seven more days to sell the allocated quantity.
Meanwhile, the “validity period” for each week in the month is extended by 7 days so mills can sell quota for week ending March 31 by April 7.
This as said by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in an order dated March 10.
The government had earlier asked millers to sell a part of their monthly non-levy quota every week.
But, failing which, the unsold quantity will be converted into levy sugar and sold at subsidised rate through the public distribution system.
However, millers were struggling to sell sugar according to the new release mechanism, leading to a sharp drop in sugar prices.
They were demanding relaxation in the rule to stabilize falling prices.
In Kolhapur, a key market in top sugar producer Maharashtra, the price of the most traded S-variety sugar fell 2.09% to Rs 3,056.25 per 100 kg on Thursday.
The price has fallen by nearly a quarter since hitting a record high of Rs 3,972.3 on Jan 7.
India’’s sugar output for 2009/10 is expected to touch 16 million tonnes and output touched 13.3 million tonnes by the end of February.
They have done about 13.3 (million tonnes) at the end of February and many factories are now shutting down in the south and north.
Earlier, Biscuit makers stated that the government’’s decision to reduce stock limits of sugar to 10 days will have an unfavorable impact on their production and also that they should be allowed to keep supplies for minimum 30 days.
Federation of Biscuits Manufacturers of India (FBIM) Secretary Mallika Verma stated that any control imposed on stock limit of sugar will restrict manufacturer’’s freedom in the manufacture of finished goods.
Previously, Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, a senior Maharashtra Congress leader has urged the Prime Minister to limit industrial users from consuming domestically produced sugar, stating that sugar prices could touch a high Rs 60 a kg if supply is not hiked.
Such a step can augment the supply by a hefty 40 lakh tonne as 20% of the domestic demand come from industrial users.
He said the Centre should change sugar control policy by restricting industrial users like manufacturers of soft drinks, fruit-juices, alcohol, chocolates and ice-creams from using locally produced sugar and instead allow them to import the sweetener.
Moreover, the Centre has extended the stock limit order for sugar till September for Sugar, where the states are authorized to take action against the hoarders and black marketers.
Earlier the validity of the anti-hoarding order was issued in March, 2009 and was supposed to expire on 31st of January, which has been further extended till September. Previously, the order was extended for 6 months till July, 2009.
However, earlier, it was said that inspite of the promise made by Mr. Sharad Pawar, Food Minister of the country, to reduce the retail prices of sugar, still the prices are increasing.
Therefore, to boost the domestic supply and temper prices, the Prime Minister – Dr. Manmohan Singh approved the proposal to sell imported raw sugar stocks lying at Mundra and Kandla ports.
Meanwhile, the government had announced a vital repose of norms for the import of raw sugar, where the sugar could be refined anywhere in the country and not only by the mill that had imported it.
Mr. Sharad Pawar, Agriculture Minister said to accelerate the refining of raw sugar and improve its availability in the market, the government has relaxed the central excise rules to enable the processing of sugar in any mills of the state.
On the other hand, Mr. Sharad Pawar our Food Minister has said, the country will have enough sugar this year, but the prices of sugar will continue to be higher because of the low output in sugar. Further he said rising prices of sugar is a big concern for the government.
Along with the Food Minister our Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh in a meeting with the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has also expressed concern regarding rising of sugar prices and their possible impact on consumer prices.
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