(a) whether sugarcane growers are shifting from cultivation of sugarcane to other cash crops;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the Government has any plan to encourage the farmers for cultivation of sugarcane and check their shifting towards cultivation of other cash crops;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) & (b): Total area under cultivation of sugarcane in the country has been fluctuating and there is no evidence to suggest shift in the area from cultivation of sugarcane to other cash crops.
(c) to (e): To encourage farmers to cultivate sugarcane and ensure sustainable growth of agriculture sector, Government of India has approved implementation of crop development programme under the National Food Security Mission (Commercial Crops) by following cropping systems approach for sugarcane crop. Under the programme farmers would be encouraged to improve productivity of sugarcane through use of proper crop rotation, multiple cropping systems, inter-cropping etc. The NFSM-Commercial Crops (Sugarcane) is being implemented in 12 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Central agencies like Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) etc.
For sugarcane development including better irrigation facilities, improved seed variety, ratoon management etc., the Government of India also provides loans from Sugar Development Fund (SDF) to the sugar factories at concessional rate of interest.
Further, to promote sugarcane cultivation and ensure remunerative price to sugarcane growers in the country, the Government of India has fixed the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane at higher rate of Rs.220/- per quintal for sugar season 2014-15 as compared to FRP of Rs.210/- per quintal fixed for sugar season 2013-14.