PANAJI
The State government is likely to discontinue the ‘Special Assistance-cum-Compensation scheme’ offered to sugarcane farmers from 2020. Under the five-year scheme, which is set to officially end this financial year, the government has so far paid Rs 40 crore to around 700-odd farmers.
However, the government on Tuesday announced the procurement of sugarcane produced by farmers at the Central government notified Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP).
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured sugarcane farmers that all the sugarcane produced by them will be purchased by the government at the premises of Sanjivani Sugar factory at notified rates decided by Government of India. “The notification in this regard would be issued shortly,” he said.
Sources informed that the government will purchase the sugarcane from the farmers, who will have to drop their produce at the factory premise. Sources said that the sugarcane will be procured at FRP decided by the centre for per quintal or tonnes.
“The FRP rates keep changing,” sources said.
In lieu of the Dharbandora-based Sanjivani Sugar Factory’s closure in 2019, the government in 2020 notified a scheme “Special Assistance for Sugarcane Growers” in the State, for a period of five years.
Sources informed that the government has decided not to further extend the benefit under the Special Assistance scheme and instead buy cane at notified rates. “The scheme lapses this year. There is no further extension to it,” sources said, referring to the demand from the farmers to continue with the scheme till factory re-starts.
As per data, from 2020-21 till 2023-24, the government has paid around Rs 40 crore to nearly 700 farmers, while this year's compensation is under consideration.
According to the information provided by the Administrator, in the first year- 2020-21, total 731 farmers were paid compensation of Rs 11.83 crore, at a rate of Rs 3,000 per metric tonne. For the year 2021-22, the rate was revised to Rs 2,800 per metric tonne, as per which Rs 10.28cr were paid to 690 farmers.
In 2022-23, total 665 farmers were paid compensation of Rs 8.86 cr at a rate of Rs 2,600 per metric tonne, while last year, the government shelled out Rs 8.32 crore to 682 farmers. The rate fixed by the government was Rs 2,400 per metric tonne.
