GENERAL POLICY
SUGARCANE PRICING POLICY
With the amendment of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 on 22.10.2009, the concept of Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane was replaced with the ‘Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)’ of sugarcane
for 2009-10 and subsequent sugar seasons. The cane price announced by the Central Government is decided on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) in consultation with the State Governments and after taking
feedback from associations of sugar industry. The amended provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 provides for fixation of FRP of sugarcane having regard to the following factors:-
a) cost of production of sugarcane;
b) return to the growers from alternative crops and the general trend of prices
of agricultural commodities;
c) availability of sugar to consumers at a fair price;
d) price at which sugar produced from sugarcane is sold by sugar producers;
e) recovery of sugar from sugarcane;
f) the realization made from sale of by-products viz. molasses, bagasse and press mud or their imputed value ( inserted vide notification dated 29.12.2008);
g) reasonable margins for the growers of sugarcane on account of risk and profits
(inserted vide notification dated 22.10.2009).
Under the FRP system, the farmers are not required to wait till the end of the season or for any announcement of the profits by sugar mills or the Government. The new system also assures margins on account
of profit and risk to farmers, irrespective of the fact whether sugar mills generate profit or not and is not dependent on the performance of any individual sugar mill.
In order to ensure that higher sugar recoveries are adequately rewarded and considering variations amongst sugar mills, the FRP is linked to a basic recovery rate of sugar, with a premium payable to farmers
for higher recoveries of sugar from sugarcane.
Accordingly, FRP for 2021-22 sugar season has been fixed at Rs. 290 per quintal linked to a basic recovery of 10% subject to a premium of Rs. 2.90 per quintal for each 0.1% increase of
recovery over and above 10% and reduction in FRP at the same rate for each 0.1% decrease in the recovery rate till 9.5%. With a view to protect interest of farmers the Government has decided that there shall not be any deduction in case where recovery is
below 9.5%; such farmers will get Rs. 275.50 per quintal for sugarcane in the current season.
The FRP of sugarcane payable by sugar factories for each sugar season from 2009-10 to 2021-22 is tabulated below:-
Sugar Season
|
FRP
(Rs. per quintal)
|
Basic Recovery Level
|
|
2009-10
|
129.84
|
9.5%
|
|
2010-11
|
139.12
|
9.5%
|
|
2011-12
|
145.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2012-13
|
170.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2013-14
|
210.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2014-15
|
220.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2015-16
|
230.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2016-17
|
230.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2017-18
|
255.00
|
9.5%
|
|
2018-19
|
275.00
|
10%
|
|
2019-20
|
275.00
|
10%
|
|
2020-21
|
285.00
|
10%
|
|
2021-22
|
290.00
|
10%
|
SUGAR PRICING POLICY
Price of sugar are market driven & depends on demand & supply of sugar. However, with a view to protect the interests of farmers, concept of Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar has been
introduced w.e.f. 07.06.2018 so that industry may get atleast the minimum cost of production of sugar, so as to enable them to clear cane price dues of farmers.
In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (c) of sub section (2) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Government has notified Sugar Price (Control) Order,
2018. Under the provisions of said order, Government initially fixed Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of white/refined sugar at Rs. 29/kg w.e.f. 07.06.2018 for sale by sugar mills at the factory gate for domestic consumption, which has been revised from Rs.29/kg
to Rs.31/kg w.e.f. 14.02.2019. MSP of sugar has been fixed after taking into account the Fair & Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane and minimum conversion cost of the most efficient mills.
ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL PROGRAMME (EBP PROGRAMME)
The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was launched in year 2003 with the vision to boost agricultural economy, to reduce dependence on imported fossil
fuel, to save foreign exchange on account of crude oil import bill, to reduce the air pollutionandto
support sugar sector and in the interest of sugarcane farmers.
Keeping in view the various benefits of Ethanol Blending Programme, Government has advanced the target of achieving 20% blending to 2025, which was earlier scheduled to be achieved in
2030. However, the ethanol production capacity in the country is not sufficient at present to achieve 20% blending by 2025. Accordingly, to meet the above mentioned requirement of ethanol, Government has notified a Scheme for extending financial assistance
to project proponents for enhancement of their ethanol distillation capacity or to set up distilleries for producing 1st Generation (1G) ethanol from feed stocks such as cereals (rice, wheat, barley, corn & sorghum), sugarcane, sugar beet etc. Under the scheme,
Government would bear interest subvention for five years including one year moratorium against the loan availed by project proponents from banks @ 6% per annum or 50% of the rate of interest charged by banks whichever is lower for setting up of new distilleries
or expansion of existing distilleries or converting molasses based distilleries to dual feedstock. It is expected that this will bring an investment of about Rs. 40,000 crore in coming years.
FIXATION OF REMUNERATIVE PRICE OF ETHANOL FOR ETHANOL SEASON 2020-21 (December to November)
With a view to support sugar sector and in the interest of sugarcane farmers, for ethanol season 2020-21 (December to November), the Government has fixed the remunerative ex-mill price
of ethanol derived from C-heavy molasses at Rs. 45.69 per litre, from B-heavy molasses at Rs.57.61per litre and at Rs.62.65 per litre for ethanol derived from 100% sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup.
STEPS TAKEN FOR AUGMENTATION OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION CAPACITY FOR INCREASING SUPPLY OF ETHANOL
UNDER ETHANOL BLENDING PETROL PROGRAMME
i.
SCHEME FOR EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUGAR MILLS FOR ENHANCEMENT AND AUGMENTATION OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION CAPACITY
In order to augment ethanol production capacity and thereby also allow diversion of sugar for production of ethanol, in principle approval has been granted for extension of soft loan of Rs. 6139 crores through banks
to the mills for setting up new distilleries/ expansion of existing distilleries and installation of incineration boilers or installation of any method as approved by Central Pollution Control Board for Zero Liquid Discharge for which Government will bear
interest subvention of Rs. 1332 crore.
ii. SCHEME FOR EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUGAR MILLS FOR ENHANCEMENT
AND AUGMENTATION OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION CAPACITY
The Government has notified a scheme on 08.03.2019 for extending financial assistance to sugar mills for enhancement and augmentation of ethanol production capacity. Under the scheme Government would bear Rs.2790 crore towards interest
subvention for extending indicative loan amount of Rs.12900 crore by banks to the sugar mills for augmentation of ethanol producing capacity.
iii. SCHEME FOR EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MOLASSES BASED STAND-ALONE DISTILLERIES
The Government has notified a scheme on 08.03.2019 for extending financial assistance to molasses based stand-alone distilleries. Under the scheme, Government would bear Rs.565 crore towards interest subvention for extending indicative
loan amount of Rs.2600 crore by banks to the molasses based standalone distilleries to augment their ethanol production capacity.
iv.
SCHEME FOR EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROJECT PROPONENTS FOR ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR ETHANOL DISTILLATION CAPACITY OR TO SET UP DISTILLERIES FOR PRODUCING 1ST GENERATION (1G) ETHANOL FROM FEED STOCKS SUCH AS CEREALS
(RICE, WHEAT, BARLEY, CORN & SORGHUM), SUGARCANE, SUGAR BEET ETC.
To meet out the requirement of ethanol, Government has modified earlier scheme & notified a Scheme for extending financial assistance to project proponents for enhancement of their ethanol distillation capacity or to set up distilleries
for producing 1st Generation (1G) ethanol from feed stocks such as cereals (rice, wheat, barley, corn & sorghum), sugarcane, sugar beet etc vide notification dated 14.01.2021. Under the scheme , Government would bear interest subvention for five years including
one year moratorium against the loan availed by project proponents from banks @ 6% per annum or 50% of the rate of interest charged by banks whichever is lower for setting up of new distilleries or expansion of existing distilleries or converting molasses
based distilleries to dual feedstock. This will bring an investment of about Rs. 40,000 crore. Due to upcoming investment in capacity addition / new distilleries, various new employment opportunities will be created in rural areas.
EXPORT-IMPORT POLICY
Sugar is an essential commodity. Its sale, delivery from mills, and distribution were regulated by the Government under Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Till
15.01.1997, the exports of sugar were being carried out under the provisions of the Sugar Export Promotion Act, 1958, through the notified export agencies, viz. Indian Sugar & General Industry Export Import Corporation Ltd. (ISGIEIC) and State Trading Corporation
of India Ltd. (STC).
Through an Ordinance, the Sugar Export Promotion Act, 1958, was repealed w.e.f. 15.01.1997 and thus the export of sugar was decanalised. Under decanalised regime,
the export of sugar was being carried out through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Thereafter, the sugar export was undertaken by the various sugar mills/merchant exporters,
after obtaining the export released orders from the Directorate of Sugar.
During the surplus phase of 2006-07 and 2007-08 sugar seasons, the sugar exports were permitted without release orders vide notification dated 31.07.2007. Subsequently,
the necessity of obtaining release order was reintroduced from 01.01.2009, in view of drop in sugar production. However, due to surplus production during 2010-11 sugar season, Government permitted exports under OGL on the strength of the release order.
The phase of surplus production continued and the Government vide Notification No.1059(E) dated 11.05.2012 has again dispensed with the requirement of export release
orders. Thereafter, the export of sugar was allowed free subject to prior registration of quantity with DGFT. Subsequently, w.e.f. 07.09.2015, the requirement for prior registration (RC) was dispensed.
Further, custom duty @ 20% was imposed on export of sugar vide Department of Revenue’s notification no. 37/2016 dated 16.06.2016. Keeping in view the surplus production
of sugar, the Government of India has withdrawn the custom duty on export of sugar vide notification no. 30/2018 dated 20.03.2018, which is still in vogue.
ii. IMPORT OF SUGAR
Import of sugar, which was placed under Open General License (OGL) with zero duty in March, 1994, continued with zero duty
in March, 1994, continued with zero duty upto 27.04.1999.The Government imposed a basic customs duty of 5% and a countervailing duty of Rs.850.00 per tonne on imported sugar w.e.f. 28.04.1998. The basic custom duty was increased from 5% to 20% w.e.f.14.04.1999
in addition to the countervailing duty. In the Union Budget for the year 1999-2000, duty on imported sugar was further increased from 20% to 25% with surcharge of 10%. The customs duty on imports of sugar was again increased to 40% on 30.12.1999 and 60%
on 09.02.2000 along with continuance of countervailing duty of Rs. 950/- per ton (w.e.f. 01.03.2008) plus 3% education cess.
Sugar production in the sugar season 2008-09 had declined and in order to augment the domestic stock of sugar, the Central Government allowed import of raw sugar at zero duty under Open General License
(OGL) w.e.f. 17.04.2009 which was applicable till 30.06.2012. Thereafter, a moderate duty of 10% was re-imposed w.e.f. 13.07.2012 which was subsequently increased to 15% w.e.f. 08.07.2013.
Due to surplus stocks of sugar in the country and in order to check any possible imports, the Government increased the import duty from 15% to 25% on 21.08.2014, which was subsequently increased to
40% w.e.f. 30.04.2015 and further increased to 50% w.e.f. 10.07.2017. In order to prevent any unnecessary import of sugar and to stabilize the domestic price at a reasonable level, the Central Government has increased custom duty on import of sugar from 50%
to 100% in the interest of farmers w.e.f. 06.02.2018.
REVIEW OF EXISTING SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF SUGAR THROUGH PDS TO ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJANA (AAY) FAMILIES:
Sugar was being distributed through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) by the States/UTs at subsidized prices for which the Central Government was reimbursing them @ 18.50 per kg. The scheme was covering all BPL
population of the country as per 2001 census and all the population of the North Eastern States / special category/ hilly states and Island territories. The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is now being universally implemented by all 36 States/UTs.
Under the NFSA, there is no identified category of BPL; however, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries are clearly identified. The Government of India has reviewed the Sugar Subsidy Scheme and has decided to give access to consumption of sugar as
a source of energy in diet, for the poorest of the poor section of the society i.e. AAY families. Accordingly, it has been decided that the existing system of sugar distribution through PDS may be continued as per the following:-
(i) The existing scheme of supply of subsidized sugar through PDS may be continued for restricted coverage
of AAY families only, providing 1 kg of sugar per AAY family per month.
(ii) The current level of subsidy at Rs. 18.50 per kg provided by the Central Government to States/UTs for distribution
of sugar through PDS may be continued for the AAY population. The States/UTs may continue to pass on any additional expenditure on account of transportation, handling and dealers’ commission etc. over and above the retail issue price of Rs. 13.50 per kg to
the beneficiary or bear it themselves.
Presently 23 States/UTs are participating in the scheme.
DE-REGULATION OF SUGAR SECTOR ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF DR. C. RANGARAJAN COMMITTEE REPORT
The year 2013-14 was a water-shed for the sugar industry. The Central Government considered the recommendations of the committee headed by Dr. C. Rangarajan on de-regulation of sugar sector and decided
to discontinue the system of levy obligations on mills for sugar produced after September, 2012 and abolished the regulated release mechanism on open market sale of sugar. The de-regulation of the sugar sector was undertaken to improve the financial health
of sugar mills, enhance cash flows, reduce inventory costs and also result in timely payments of cane price to sugarcane farmers. The recommendations of the Committee relating to Cane Area Reservation, Minimum Distance Criteria and adoption of the Cane Price
Formula have been left to State Governments for adoption and implementation, as considered appropriate by them. The gist of recommendations of the Committee and action taken by the Government thereon is as under:
Implementation of Recommendations of Dr. Rangarajan Committee
|
Issues
|
Gist of Recommendations
|
Status
|
|
Cane Area Reservation:
|
Over a period of time, states should encourage development of such market-based long-term contractual arrangements, and phase
out cane reservation area and bonding. In the interim, the current system may continue.
|
States have been requested to consider the recommendations for implementation as deemed fit. So far, none
of the States have taken action, current system continues. There is no reservation of area in Maharashtra.
|
|
Minimum Distance
Criteria:
|
It is not in the interest of development of sugarcane farmers or the sugar sector, and may be dispensed with as and when a state does
away with cane reservation area and bonding.
|
States have been requested to consider the recommendations for implementation as deemed fit. So far, none of the States have taken
action, current system continues.
|
|
Sugarcane Price : Revenue Sharing
|
Based on an analysis of the data available for the by-products (molasses and bagasse / cogeneration), the
revenue-sharing ratio has been estimated to amount to roughly 75 per cent of theex-mill sugar price alone.
|
States have been requested to consider the recommendations for implementation as deemed fit. So far only
Karnataka Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu have passed state Acts to implement this recommendation.
|
|
Levy Sugar
|
Levy sugar may be dispensed with. The states which want to provide sugar under PDS may henceforth procure
it from the market directly according to their requirement and may also fix the issue price. However, since currently there is an implicit cross-subsidy on account of the levy, some level of Central support to help states meet the cost to be incurred on this
account may be provided for a transitory period.
|
Central Government has abolished levy on sugar produce after 1st October, 2012. Procurement
for PDS operation is being made from the open market by the states/UTs and Government is providing a fixed subsidy @ Rs. 18.50 per kg for restricted coverage to AAY families only who will be provided 1 kg of sugar per family per month.
|
|
Regulated
Release
Mechanism
|
This mechanism is not serving any useful purpose, and may be dispensed with.
|
Release mechanism has been dispensed with.
|
|
Trade Policy
|
As per the committee, trade policies on sugar should be stable. Appropriate tariff instruments like a moderate
export duty not exceeding 5 per cent ordinarily, as opposed to quantitative restrictions, should be used to meet domestic requirements of sugar in an economically efficient manner.
|
Import and export of sugar is free without quantitative restrictions, but subject to prevailing rate of
custom duty. Import duty has been enhanced from 25% to 40% w.e.f. 29.04.2015; and 50% w.e.f. 10.07.2017 which has further now been enhanced to 100% w.e.f. 06.02.2018.
Keeping in view of production of sugar, stock position and market price sentiments, the Government of India has withdrawn the custom duty on export of sugar vide notification no. 30/2018 dated 20.03.2018.
|
|
By-products
|
There should be no quantitative or movement restrictions on by products like molasses and ethanol. The
prices of the by-products should be market-determined with no earmarked end-use allocations. There should be no regulatory hurdles preventing sugar mills from selling their surplus power to any consumer.
|
Department of Industrial Policy and promotion has amended the I (D&R) Act, 1951 vide notification No. 27 of 2016 dated 14.05.2016. With this amendment, the States can legislate, control
and/or levy taxes and duties on liquor meant for human consumption only. Other than that i.e. de-natured ethanol, which is not meant for human consumption, will be controlled by the Central Government only.
|
CONSTITUATION OF A WORKING COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
TASK FORCE CONSTITUTED UNDER NITI AAYOG AND CACP
The Central Government has been taking various measures from time to time, however, a need was felt by
NITI Aayog to find long-term solutions for the sugar industry and sugarcane farmers. Accordingly, a Task Force was constituted by NITI Aayog under the chairmanship of Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog.
Some of the major recommendations of the Task Force include adoption of revenue sharing formula, diversification towards less water intensive crops, enhanced ethanol blending, revision
in Minimum Selling Price of sugar, redesigning of export incentives to make them WTO compliant, discontinuation of buffer stocks, promotion of jaggery, etc. Since sugar season 2016-17, CACP while recommending FRP of sugarcane has also been recommending sharing
the premium paid for higher recovery between millers and sugarcane growers which is also required to be examined.
In order to examine the recommendations of the Task Force and CACP, and to evolve mechanism to implement these recommendations, a WorkingCommittee
has been constituted in DFPD comprising of representatives from DFPD, MoPNG,Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, DFS, MSME,Department
of Commerce, Department of Expenditure and other stake holders. The Working Committee is in the process of taking comments from the sugarcane producing States.
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