The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. (NFCSF) has urged the Central Government to introduce key policy reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of India’s sugar and ethanol industries.
A delegation led by NFCSF President Harshvardhan Patil and Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare met IAS officer Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, and submitted a detailed memorandum outlining the sector’s major concerns.
Among the key demands, NFCSF sought an increase in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar to Rs 43 per kg and the linking of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) with sugar MSP to improve the financial health of sugar mills and ensure timely payments to sugarcane farmers.
The federation also called for a revision in ethanol procurement prices, equitable ethanol allocation between sugarcane- and grain-based producers, and priority allocation of ethanol from B-Heavy Molasses.
Additionally, NFCSF sought further relief under the Sugar Development Fund’s One-Time Settlement scheme and regulation of gur and jaggery units to safeguard sugarcane availability for the sugar and ethanol sectors.