Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122351210300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

MLA writes to Govt. on sugarcane prices

ERODE: R.M. Palanisami, Congress MLA from Modakurichi has written to the Union Government to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane.

In his letter, a copy of which was shared with the media, the Legislator says while the cost of cultivation of

sugarcane has gone up eight to 10 times in the last 16 years, the MSP was increased from

Rs. 400 to Rs. 500. Pointing out that the present MSP of Rs. 1,016 a tonne

was far below the recommendation

of the Committee on Agriculture Costs and Prices of Rs. 1,550, the MLA has urged the Union Government to heed to the farmers’ request to fix the price at Rs. 2,000 a tonne.