Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh wants the sugar industry to be fully commercialised.
In a parliamentary address last night, he said 10,680 farmers produced approximately 1.56 million tons of sugarcane in 2023.
However, nearly half (4,876 farmers) produced less than 100 tons each, contributing only 15% of the total supply.
In contrast, farmers producing 100 to 300 tons accounted for over 50% of production, forming the industry’s core, he said.
A smaller group, just 10% of farms, produced over 300 tons, contributing 32% of the national output, while only 20 growers exceeded 1,000 tons, accounting for 3% of the total.
“Mister Speaker, we must confront some hard truths,” he said.
“Not every grower may be able to sustain production under modern, market-driven conditions. As difficult as it is, we may need to support a transition away for some, while helping others scale up and succeed.”
To achieve this, Mr Singh has tasked the newly appointed Permanent Secretary for Sugar Industry with leading a comprehensive structural transformation, targeting growers, institutions, and the miller.
“The objective is clear: to drive the industry towards full commercialization and long-term sustainability,” he emphasized, signalling a shift toward a more efficient and market-oriented sugar sector.”
