1 Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009 SSS-AKG/11.00/1A ...

230Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009exceptional. We have practically reached 300 million tonnes. It is much,much more than our requirement. So, there was no choice but toencourage export. In fact, most of the mills were not in a position to payfarmers cane price. They should be in a position to pay the price to thefarmers; so, Government of India has encouraged export. Thesedecisions were taken. I recall that at that time, the price of sugar wasabout Rs. 16 per kg. In the same House, last year, I have made astatement that if we are not ready to accept an enhancement in theprice of sugar in the open market, sugarcane farmers would definitelyshift from sugarcane to some other crop, and the country will have tobuy sugar at the rate of Rs. 30 to 35. This was my statement made inthis House, on record, and exactly the same situation has occurred.There was tremendous opposition for providing an additional price. Andbecause of that, ultimately, when the farmers, particularly farmers fromUttar Pradesh and other Northern States, started getting greater pricefor wheat and rice, they shifted from sugarcane to wheat and rice. Theypreferred the wheat and rice crops. They get money practically withineight or ten days at the most; for sugarcane price they have to waiteven up to one year. That is the reason why the area under sugarcanecultivation has been substantially dropped and that is the situation weare facing today. Our efforts are to provide a better price to the farmers.Unless and until we provide a better price to the farmers, they would notgrow sugarcane. Today, you are complaining that sugar prices are goingup. I remember, for practically two days, the House could not functionbecause the price which the Government of India had announced forsugarcane in its Ordinance was not approved; there were agitations, and