Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that a recent high-level meeting chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has led to significant decisions benefiting onion growers, sugarcane farmers, and the sugar industry in Maharashtra. The meeting resulted in key measures such as onion procurement at Rs 1,580 per quintal through NAFED and NCCF, expansion of procurement capacity, improvements in storage facilities, an increase in ethanol quota, review of sugar MSP, debt restructuring for sugar mills, and resolution of EPF issues for sugarcane laborers.
Shinde emphasized that these initiatives would offer substantial support to numerous farmers and bolster the cooperative sector in the state. The meeting directed NAFED and NCCF to engage in large-scale onion procurement to shield farmers from market price fluctuations, setting the procurement rate at Rs 1,580 per quintal and proposing an increase in procurement capacity from 2 lakh tonnes to 10 lakh tonnes. Efforts will also focus on expanding modern warehouses and sorting facilities for onion storage, with the Central government committed to enhancing onion exports.
Moreover, the demands put forth by sugarcane farmers and the sugar industry were positively acknowledged during the meeting. The Center exhibited a supportive stance towards enhancing ethanol production, reviewing sugar MSP, restructuring debts of cooperative sugar mills, and implementing measures to alleviate financial challenges faced by the sector. Shinde assured a prompt and favorable resolution of pending issues related to sugarcane cutters, including EPF grievances, while maintaining a balanced policy on commercial and domestic sugar prices to prevent additional burdens on consumers.
In a media briefing, DCM Shinde highlighted the Central government’s efforts in the cooperative sector in recent years, attributing significant changes to the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He mentioned tax benefits for cooperative societies nationwide, digitalization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), and enhanced rural services as key drivers of the cooperative movement’s progress. Shinde also disclosed the Maharashtra government’s decision to extend financial aid to Alphonso mango growers affected by recent natural calamities through various government schemes.
He reiterated that the decisions taken at the meeting would bring substantial relief to onion growers, sugarcane farmers, laborers, and the sugar industry, ultimately strengthening the rural economy and fostering growth in Maharashtra’s agriculture and cooperative sectors. Shinde described the meeting as “extremely positive and decisive,” underscoring its significance in prioritizing farmers’ welfare.
