1 Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009 SSS-AKG/11.00/1A ...

199Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009over the country and cane production has gone down by almost 50 percent. This is because in the last several years, the sugar industry hasbeen made to suffer extensively. At one time, there were heavy imports.Later, imports were stopped. Subsequently, cane was not grown fullyand cane growers had problems. Sugar factories closed down as aresult. Thus, there have been many problems continuously. TodayGovernment wants to import sugar, but the international prices of sugarare very high. Even by importing sugar they would not be able to controlprices. So, what is the option? The option is, at least, for the future,what they must do is, sugarcane farmers must be encouraged to growmore sugar. Now, cane production has gone down by 50 per cent. Atleast, in future they must be encouraged. Similarly, in sugar factorieswhich are sick in States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and variousother States, the Government must take initiatives to give them moreincentives and even ask banks to give them loans at less rates ofinterest and restructure the sick factories. The cooperative sugarfactories should also be restructured. This should be done on a warfootingand, at least, in the next one or two years, the price of sugarmust be completely brought under control. There must be a boom andproduction should go up.Sir, similar problems are being faced in the case of palm oil. Youcannot import palm oil. Not many countries produce it; there are a verylimited number of countries that does that. So, we must produce morein our country itself. We must also concentrate on potatoes and onions.The Agriculture Ministry must concentrate on some special crops wherethere is a shortage always. Every season we talk about potatoes and