Govt approves sugarcane FRP of Rs 305 per quintal for FY23 season

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) have approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar marketing year 2022-23 (October-September) at Rs 305 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25 per cent.

The decision will benefit around 50 million sugarcane farmers and their dependents, as well as about 500,000 workers employed in sugar mills and related ancillary activities.

The cost of production of sugarcane for 2022-23 marketing year is Rs 162 per quintal.

Recently, ISMA said that the India's sugar production could fall slightly to 355 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 marketing year starting October, due to diversion of sugarcane towards ethanol manufacturing.

As per the ISMA, the sugar production in 2022-23 is estimated at 355 lakh tonnes as against 360 lakh tonnes in the current marketing year ending September.

Before considering diversion towards ethanol, net sugar production is estimated to be higher at 399.97 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 as against 394 lakh tonnes in the current 2021-22 marketing year.

ISMA estimates that the diversion of cane juice and B-molasses to ethanol will reduce sugar production by about 45 lakh tonnes in the next marketing year. In the current 2021-22 marketing year, about 34 lakh tonnes diversion has been estimated.

The annual domestic demand is seen at around 275 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23, which will leave a surplus of about 80 lakh tonnes for exports.

In May, the Centre capped sugar exports at 10 million tonnes in the current 2021-22 marketing year to maintain the domestic availability and price stability.