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9 health benefits of drinking sugarcane juice in summer

10 delicious and healthy drinks for Delhi summers

New Delhi, The government on Wednesday announced hiking the <keyword id="20069652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugarcane" source="keywords">sugarcane</keyword> <keyword id="20544473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="frp" source="keywords">FRP</keyword> by Rs 25 to Rs 340 per quintal for the 2024-25 season starting October. Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers. The decision to increase the FRP of sugarcane was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>. The Rs 25 per quintal hike is the highest by the Modi government and the move comes ahead of the general elections. Sugarcane is grown mainly in Maharashtra, <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>, and Karnataka. "Keeping in view interest of sugarcane farmers (GannaKisan), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar season 2024-25 (October - September) at Rs 340 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25 per cent," I&amp;B Minister <keyword id="19895497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anurag-thakur" source="keywords">Anurag Thakur</keyword> said at a media briefing. The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with state governments and other stakeholders.

Cabinet approves hike in sugarcane FRP by ₹25 to ₹340 per quintal for 2024-25 season

How plates made from sugarcane could help India's plastic problem

New Delhi, Mar 13 () Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan onFriday said sugarcane arrears of farmers have come downsignificantly to Rs 1,314 crore from peak Rs 28,222 crore forthe 2018-19 marketing year on the back of several measurestaken by the Centre.Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.During Question Hour in Rajya Sabaha, Paswan said sugarproduction was high in 2017-18 and 2018-19 marketing yearswhich led to a sharp decline in the domestic ex-mill prices ofthe sweetener."Low realisation from sale of sugar due to surplus sugarstocks had adversely affected the financial health of sugarmills, resulting in accumulation of cane arrears of farmerswhich peaked at Rs 23,232 crore during sugar season 2017-18 inMay 2018 and at Rs 28,222 crore during the sugar season 2018-19 in April 2019," Paswan said.To boost the liquidity position of mills and enable themclear cane price dues of farmers, he said the Centre tookvarious remedial measures such as providing assistance tomills to offset the cost of cane, fixation of minimum sellingprice of sugar, financial assistance to maintain buffer stocksas well as exports, and soft loans.Paswan said the cane price arrears now are almost"negligible" for the last two sugar marketing years.As a result of these measures, the all-India cane pricearrears of farmers have come down to Rs 251 crore for 2017-18based on state-advised price (SAP) and Rs 134 crore based onthe central price called the Fair and Remunerative Price(FRP).For 2018-19, the arrears have come down to Rs 1,314 croreon SAP basis and Rs 931 crore on FRP basis, he said.Paswan said some states, including Uttar Pradesh,announced their own cane price called SAP, which is higherthat the Centre's FRP.The minister highlighted that the Centre has taken manysteps in 2019-20 as well to help sugar mills clear cane dues.He said the Centre has created buffer stocks of 40 lakhtonnes of sugar, costing Rs 1,674 crore to the exchequer. Thatapart, an assistance of Rs 6,268 crore is being provided tohelp mills export 60 lakh tonnes of sugar.The Centre is also encouraging diversion of excesssugarcane and sugar to produce ethanol for blending withpetrol.Paswan said the sugar production is estimated at 273 lakhtonnes in 2019-20 as against domestic consumption of 260 lakhtonnes. In the previous year, sugar output was 331 lakh tonnesas compared with 259 lakh tonnes domestic demand. MJHDV DV

Sugarcane arrears of farmers down: Paswan

<ul><li>The first phase of polling in India’s general elections commences today, and eight out of 80 seats allocated to <keyword id="6357713" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> in the Lok Sabha will be up for grabs. </li><li>As the state’s <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> head to polling booths, one particular issue will likely weigh on their minds: <keyword id="46885" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugarcane">sugarcane</keyword> arrears. </li><li>Up until this month, the amount of unpaid dues owed to sugarcane farmers in UP, excluding interest, was around ₹128 billion - accumulated from the past three fiscal years owing to a glut in production. </li></ul> The first phase of polling in India’s general elections commences today, and eight out of 80 seats allocated to Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha will be up for grabs. As the state’s farmers head to polling booths, one particular issue will likely weigh on their minds: sugarcane arrears. Up until this month, the amount of unpaid dues owed to sugarcane farmers in UP, excluding interest, was around <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/discontent-over-cane-arrears-simmers-in-uttar-pradesh/article26714192.ece">₹128 billion</a> - accumulated from the past three fiscal years owing to a glut in production which has, in turn, <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cane-arrears-up-to-rs-11000-cr-set-to-mount-before-polls-5526036/">reduced the market prices</a> that mills are able to sell sugar at. Concurrently, the government is reluctant to raise the minimum support price to the extent mills want because it is hesitant about the effects on consumer prices. With around <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/discontent-over-cane-arrears-simmers-in-uttar-pradesh/article26714192.ece">3.5 million</a> sugarcane farming households in UP, the issue has been a key point at rallies. At a rally earlier this week, Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/politics/at-baghpat-rally-jayant-chaudhary-praises-master-akhilesh-yadav-for-stitching-up-uttar-pradesh-grand-alliance-2093927.html">berated the state government</a> for its inability to settle sugarcane arrears. In fact, the issue was seen as one of the major reasons that the BJP lost <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-loses-kairana-ls-seat-suffers-reverses-in-assembly-bypolls-too/article24050560.ece">a bypoll election</a> in June last year for the Kairana constituency. However, the BJP-led government is reportedly moving ahead with a plan this week to reduce that burden by <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/up-cane-arrears-of-rs-10-000-crore-to-ease-by-40-as-polling-nears-119040900898_1.html">₹41 billion </a>through by directly releasing funds to private and state-owned mills as well as offering them soft loans through a central government scheme. Whether this will have an impact on the results of the election come counting day remains to be seen. What is clear though, is that this won’t have too positive an effect on the first phase of polling in UP. All of the eight seats in contention in the first week are in the Western region of the state, where <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/up-cane-arrears-of-rs-10-000-crore-to-ease-by-40-as-polling-nears-119040900898_1.html">around 60%</a> of the arrears are concentrated. However, the main mills in this region have reportedly been deemed ineligible for the scheme. Skepticism in voter’s minds will also be high, given that this isn’t the first time the UP government has tried to alleviate the problem. In September last year, it <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/up-government-announces-slew-of-measures-for-sugar-mills-cane-farmers/story-fna4KUZBEgTXrCWcbgxnqI.html">set a deadline of end-November</a> for the state’s <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/sugarcane-belts-to-set-tone-for-lok-sabha-polls-in-uttar-pradesh-119031800061_1.html">94 private sugar mills</a> to settle dues after providing them with soft loans - which didn’t come to fruition. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-could-soon-become-the-worlds-largest-sugar-producer-but-heres-why-thats-a-problem/articleshow/65657844.cms">India could soon become the world’s largest sugar producer but here’s why that’s a problem</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/centre-grants-debt-relief-to-sugarcane-farmers-with-soft-loans/articleshow/68211878.cms">Centre grants debt relief to sugarcane farmers with soft loans</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-sugar-output-may-fall-but-thats-that-not-a-bad-thing/articleshow/65807284.cms">India's curbing its sugar surplus by incentivising ethanol production</a>

Uttar Pradesh’s unpaid farmers who are owed ₹128 billion will express their anger with ballot ink

<ul><li>The Indian government has announced a 25% increase in the price of ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses of <keyword id="46885" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugarcane">sugarcane</keyword>. </li><li>A sustainable increase in production of the alternative fuel could also serve to meet <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s energy requirements.</li><li>Producing is ethanol is more profitable for the economy and there’s excess demand to be met. </li></ul>Sugar produce in India might see a decline with the government <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/sugar-output-likely-to-drop-if-mills-make-ethanol-directly-from-b-molasses-118091200107_1.html">announcing incentives </a>on the production of ethanol from B-heavy molasses. Historically, India has been the largest consumer of sugar in the world but the focus on meeting that demand has led to a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-could-soon-become-the-worlds-largest-sugar-producer-but-heres-why-thats-a-problem/articleshow/65657844.cms">surplus in the market.</a> Not only is the demand for ethanol higher, but it is a more profitable option as well. The main boon of the policy lies in the fact that India is the fourth largest producer and consumer of energy. And, ethanol, serves as an alternative fuel. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister, made a <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/auto/switching-to-ethanol-cng-will-reduce-petrol-diesel-prices-in-india-bjp-union-minister-nitin-gadkari-1874025.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">statement</a> saying that switching over the alternative fuels like ethanol could serve as a important catalyst in driving down the prices of petrol and diesel that currently rising at an increasing pace. The new policy could be a boon to stabilise sugar prices, increase the income of farms and reduce India's dependency on foreign crude oil, all in one sweep. What are B-heavy molasses? Molasses are basically any fluid substance resulting from refining sugar cane into sugar. So far, mills only derived ethanol from C-heavy molasses because without remuneration backed by policy, using the B-heavy molasses wouldn’t be profitable. But with this policy allowing for a 25% increase in the price of ethanol from B-heavy molasses from ₹47.5 per litre to ₹52.43, <keyword id="6374174" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar-mills">sugar mills</keyword> have a margin they can rely on. Demand-supply disparity According to the India Sugar Mills Association, India is set to produce 35.5 million tonnes of sugar between October 2018 and September 2019 but the demand is only at 25 million tonnes. Even historically, reports <a href="http://www.indiansugar.com/PDFS/Kingsman_2016-final.pdf">show</a> that India sugar consumption has remained stable at around 20 kilos per capita a year. So, a decline in sugar output through incentivising B-heavy molasses might not only be good for the economy but a more sustainable solution as well. There are three crucial outcomes tied in with each other. One, the current level of sugar output will decrease leading to an increase in price. That will take the burden off the government who’s currently set the MSP at ₹29/kg, which is above the global average hurting the product’s export competitiveness. Two, the farmers who are owed money will quickly be remunerated. Currently, the debt is expected to reach around ₹30 billion if the output isn’t curbed. And, three, the economy would benefit as a whole since ethanol is more profitable and there is excess demand is waiting to be addressed. It also serves as an alternative fuel that could potentially reduce India's dependence on crude oil. And, addressing the price disparity of sugar would increase the global demand for sugar, a market that's currently sluggish as is.

India's curbing its sugar surplus by incentivising ethanol production

<ul><li><keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> mainly relies on oil imports, which make up about 80% of its current oil consumption</li><li>Rising oil prices also have a bearing on the Indian Rupee which reached a record low earlier this week</li><li>India has a stated ambition of reducing its dependence on oil </li></ul> Prices of <keyword id="6367091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="petrol">petrol</keyword> and <keyword id="6356109" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="diesel">diesel</keyword> have risen sharply in the last couple of weeks with the both fuels touching record highs. On Tuesday, prices of petrol had risen for tenth day <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/petrol-diesel-prices-rise-for-the-10th-consecutive-day/articleshow/65665863.cms">straight </a>and as of Tuesday morning petrol <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Money/PwI1JhZlCdGYPaxnE7CkhI/Petrol-diesel-prices-rise-for-the-10th-day-Check-todays-r.html">cost</a> ₹79.31 ($1.11) per litre in <keyword id="66" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword> and ₹86.72 per litre in Mumbai. The price of diesel stood at ₹71.34 per litre in Delhi and ₹75.74 per litre in Mumbai. The news comes even as the Indian government announcing impressive <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/India-overtakes-China-to-become-the-worlds-fastest-growing-economy-in-Q1-2018/articleshow/65653486.cms">GDP growth</a> numbers for the first quarter of 2018, growing at 8.2%. Rising crude prices and falling rupee India mainly relies on oil imports, which make up about 80% of its current oil consumption. Global crude oil prices have been on the uptick in recent weeks because of a supply <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/oil-prices-poised-for-further-hike-international-energy-agency/articleshow/65614389.cms">shortage </a>in Venezuela and rising demand elsewhere. Crude oil prices <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/fuel-prices-set-new-record-on-fall-in-rupee-surge-in-global-crude-oil/articleshow/65650709.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&amp;utm_medium=text&amp;utm_campaign=cppst">rose </a>by $7 a barrel in just the last couple of weeks. Crude oil prices had been relatively<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/global-oil/oil-prices-stable-on-healthy-demand-but-oversupply-looms-later-in-2018-idUSL8N1QX015"> stable</a> earlier this year. Meanwhile, the rupee has been in free fall in part because of the global oil prices and recent economic crisis in Turkey. On Wednesday, rupee posted a record low of ₹71 against the dollar. The value of Indian rupee has <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45369884">slipped </a>by 10% since the beginning of the year because of fears of India’s increasing trade deficit and rising global oil prices. A weak rupee also makes it more expensive to import goods and commodities priced in US dollars. Last year, India shifted to the practice of revising fuel prices on a daily basis from an earlier practice of reviewing twice a month. The former was enacted by <keyword id="6354412" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-oil">Indian oil</keyword> marketing companies to bring it in line with the daily fluctuations in crude oil and what other developing countries follow. What about alternative fuels? India has a stated ambition of reducing its dependence on oil with the government aiming to have 30% of cars <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/2018/03/08/india-says-never-targeted-100-electric-mobility-by-2030-scales-down-aim#gs.LqrO=_I">running</a> on electricity by 2030. Biofuels derived from vegetable sources is another potential alternative however the supply currently lags because of limited availability of raw materials. The Indian government has also been pushing for the adoption of <keyword id="53632" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="biofuel">biofuel</keyword>s for many years and in 2003 set the target of blending petrol and diesel with 10% of ethanol sourced from <keyword id="31653" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> molasses. Biofuel could potentially be manufactured from waste foodgrains and even <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/et-explains/rotten-potatoes-thats-the-governments-answer-to-your-rising-fuel-bill/articleshow/65656298.cms">rotten potatoes.</a> However, challenges still remain for these fuels for the foreseeable future.

Why are petrol and diesel prices spiking if the economy is in recovery?

<ul><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> is set to produce 35.5 million tonnes of <keyword id="31653" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> between October 2018 and September 2019, a 10% jump from the previous year. </li><li>As a result, India will unseat <keyword id="6355226" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="brazil">Brazil</keyword> as the world’s largest producer of sugar. </li><li>However, this is largely because Brazil is converting its surplus <keyword id="46885" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugarcane">sugarcane</keyword> produce to ethanol, which is in higher demand than sugar and more profitable. </li></ul>India, which is the world’s largest consumer of sugar, is set to produce a record yield of sugarcane in the current financial year. This is largely because sugarcane farmers are assured of a government-mandated fair price from <keyword id="6374174" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar-mills">sugar mills</keyword> that exceeds their costs by a significant margin. According to data from the Indian Sugar Mills Association, the country’s sugarcane farmers will produce 35.5 million tonnes of sugar between October 2018, when the crop season starts, and September 2019. This is a significant jump over the 32.2 million tonnes it will have produced by the end of 2017-18. In doing so, India will unseat Brazil as the world’s largest producer of sugar. However, this isn’t because Brazil is producing less sugarcane or is less efficient. It’s simply because Brazil is doing a better job at converting its surplus sugarcane stocks to ethanol, which is produced through the fermentation of sugarcane. Brazil’s sugar output for 2018-19 is expected to fall by 22% to 30 million tonnes as it diverts inputs towards ethanol production, which is in higher demand and more profitable. Given the depressed prices of sugar in global market, Brazilian producers found that it made more sense to prioritise ethanol, which is an alternative fuel. When “too much” becomes a bad thing The robust levels of sugar production in India have contributed to a decline in market prices to the point at which sugar is being sold at below its production cost and mills are recording huge losses, a result of which is that farmers <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/sugarcane-arrears-to-farmers-down-to-rs-16600-crore-government/articleshow/65214878.cms">aren’t getting paid</a>. This has forced the government to set a minimum price of ₹29/kg for sugar, which is above global prices, hence hurting the product’s global competitiveness. In addition, India only consumes 25 million tonnes of sugar, which means that it will likely have 10 million tonnes of surplus production in 2018-19. However, the country does not have the distillery capacity to convert it’s excess sugarcane into ethanol. To make matters worse, the current minimum prices of ethanol in India do not make its production financially viable. So, in essence, India has no choice but to ship the excess stocks. However, the level of demand for India’s low-quality white sugar isn’t sufficient. Besides, even if all the surplus stocks are exported, not only will this contribute to a global gut in sugar, but it will also serve to depress prices further. Taking note of this, the Modi administration approved a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/no-mill-can-sell-sugar-below-rs-29/kg-government-order/articleshow/64498032.cms">₹44.4 billion</a> financing package to improve domestic ethanol production capacity, but it will take some time for the programme to start showing results. Concurrently, in April 2018, the government of Maharashtra, the state that produces the second-largest amount of sugar in India, was said to be planning <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-government-plans-subsidy-for-mills-to-export-sugar-5144453/">an export subsidy scheme</a> for sugar producers. The Indian government is also trying to make a push for <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-itches-for-sugar-export-to-china/articleshow/64413898.cms">sugar exports to China</a>.

India could soon become the world’s largest sugar producer but here’s why that’s a problem

<ul><li>As per the state’s draft Groundwater Development and Management Rules, 2018, farmers of water-intensive crops will have to get an approval from a district-level body in order to cultivate such crops. </li><li>If it is passed by the state legislature, the ruling will extend to areas where the annual <keyword id="1046710" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="groundwater-recharge">groundwater recharge</keyword> levels are less than extraction levels. </li><li>In January this year, the Central Ground Water Board found that 57% of <keyword id="13126" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword>’s observational wells had recorded a decline in pre-monsoon groundwater levels between 2016 and 2017. </li></ul>Maharashtra’s <keyword id="46885" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugarcane">sugarcane</keyword> and <keyword id="6381706" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="banana">banana</keyword> farmers could be in for a rude shock in the near future. As per a draft of the state’s Groundwater Development and Management Rules, 2018, farmers of water-intensive crops will have to get an approval from a Watershed Water Resources Committee (WWRC) in order to cultivate them. The draft rules, which are currently under public consultation, are aimed at mitigating the state’s groundwater woes. The WWRC will be a district-level body comprising of a panchayat leader as well as officials from the state ministries of water, sanitation, animal husbandry and agriculture. In order to assess a farmer’s application, the body will consult with geologists from Maharashtra’s Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency. A farmer’s application is expected to take 30 days to process. If it is passed by the state legislature, the ruling will extend to areas where the annual groundwater recharge levels are less than its extraction levels. Maharashtra has 1,531 such districts where this situation exists. This is not the only measure the Maharashtra government is taking to prevent the continued depletion of groundwater, the government is also planning to <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-plans-to-hike-cess-on-groundwater-extraction/article24556643.ece">hike the cess</a> levied by Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority on the extraction through deep wells by as much as four times the original amount. A consequence of agricultural excess A groundwater crisis has been affecting the state of Maharashtra for a while now. In January this year, the Central Ground Water Board, a government agency, found that <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtras-groundwater-levels-going-down-fast-contamination-rising-5008114/">57% </a>of the state’s observational wells had recorded a decline in pre-monsoon groundwater levels between 2016 and 2017. Furthermore, the maximum acceptable level of metal concentration had been breached in wells in 20 of the state’s districts, indicating a severe contamination problem. This is largely due to the gratuitous use of chemical fertilisers and discharge of industrial effluents. Ironically, the groundwater crisis is a byproduct of Maharashtra’s agricultural drive. Between 1977 and 2007, the number of borewells in the state had increased four-fold to 2.2 million to support increasing agricultural production. This led to the an unsustainable level of groundwater extraction. The problem has been exacerbated by wasteful irrigation practices and over-production of water-intensive crops like sugarcane. And unless the aforementioned measures are implemented, it doesn’t look like the problem will abate anytime soon. Maharashtra’s production of sugarcane is expected to rise by <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/maharashtras-2017-18-sugar-production-to-touch-10-million-tonnes/articleshow/63171080.cms">37%</a> to 10 million tonnes this year.

Maharashtra’s groundwater crisis is so bad that farmers might need special approval to plant water-intensive crops

<ul><li>At the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Committee on Agriculture meeting later this month, <keyword id="6355478" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="australia">Australia</keyword> is all set to raise the issue of India’s <keyword id="31653" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> production subsidies. </li><li>India’s sugarcane farmers are expected to produce 35.5 million tonnes of sugar between October 2018 and September 2019. This is well over domestic demand, and hence as India exports the surplus stocks, global prices will decline. </li><li>India has tried to curb the problem of overproduction by incentivising the production of ethanol, but the initiative is still in the early stages. </li></ul>As the US clashes with India over the latter’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/america-doesnt-like-indias-farmer-subsidies-and-thats-unlikely-to-change-anytime-soon/articleshow/64123715.cms">agricultural subsidies</a>, India is all set to be hit with a fresh challenge over its subsidies to local sugar producers — this time from Australia. At the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Committee on Agriculture meeting later this month, Australia is all set to raise the issue of India’s sugar production subsidies, according <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-11-16/india-sugar-subsidies-priority-for-industry/10176976">to ABC News</a>, complaining that these distort the global market for sugar by lowering prices and increasing supply significantly. To this effect, it has issued a counter-notification against India -- the first step required to compel a WTO member to cut subsidies, wherein the complainant explains the nature of the subsidy and subsequent market distortion. India’s astonishing rate of sugar production is well-documented. Given that they are assured of a government-set fixed price from sugar mills that helps them exceed their costs, India’s sugarcane farmers are expected to produce <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-could-soon-become-the-worlds-largest-sugar-producer-but-heres-why-thats-a-problem/articleshow/65657844.cms">35.5 million tonnes </a>of sugar between October 2018 and September 2019, according to the <keyword id="124503" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Sugar-Mills-Association">Indian Sugar Mills Association</keyword>. As a result, India will overtake <keyword id="6355226" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="brazil">Brazil</keyword> as the world’s largest sugar producer. However, this isn’t something to be celebrated. India needs to do a better job at converting excess stocks of sugarcane to ethanol. Otherwise, it risks flooding the global market with excess sugar, since annual domestic demand is only about 25 million tonnes, depressing prices even further. That is largely where Australia’s complaints emanate from. The low global prices of sugar have hurt its sugarcane farmers falling well below their costs of production. In addition, more sugarcane importers are expected to choose India’s sugarcane over other countries like Australia and Brazil because of the cheaper prices. Meanwhile, India’s sugarcane mills are also struggling with low sugar prices, which has resulted in a huge build-up of <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/sugarcane-arrears-to-farmers-down-to-rs-16600-crore-government/articleshow/65214878.cms">arrears to </a>sugarcane farmers. That has led to a <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Industry/tlKss2fM2BcaGMrIyHR4ZJ/Government-approves-Rs8500-crore-sugar-bailout-package.html">bailout package</a> for the sector from the Indian government, as well as the scrapping of export duties and<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/government-doubles-import-duty-on-sugar-to-100-hikes-chana-to-40/articleshow/62809086.cms"> levying of import duties </a>to keep domestic produce competitive. For its part, India has tried to curb the problem of overproduction by incentivising ethanol production, but it will be a while before the initiative takes effect. In September, it increased the price of ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses of sugarcane <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-curbing-its-sugar-surplus-by-incentivising-ethanol-production/articleshow/65807284.cms">by 25%</a> in order to make its production financially viable. As part of a financial rescue plan in June, the country also offered a loan package worth ₹44.4 billion to producers to undertake the production of ethanol. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-could-soon-become-the-worlds-largest-sugar-producer-but-heres-why-thats-a-problem/articleshow/65657844.cms">India could soon become the world’s largest sugar producer but here’s why that’s a problem</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-curbing-its-sugar-surplus-by-incentivising-ethanol-production/articleshow/65807284.cms">India is curbing its sugar surplus by incentivising ethanol production</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/america-doesnt-like-indias-farmer-subsidies-and-thats-unlikely-to-change-anytime-soon/articleshow/64123715.cms">America doesn’t like India’s farmer subsidies and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon</a>

India is all set to be challenged by Australia at the WTO over its support to sugarcane farmers

Everyone is aware of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IPL-vs-PIL-With-an-alarming-rate-of-farmers-suicide-how-can-Maharashtra-grounds-have-water-for-IPL-pitches/articleshow/51700208.cms">severe drought conditions</a> in Maharashtra, because of which several matches of the ongoing IPL have also <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Bombay-High-Court-says-no-IPL-matchesin-drought-hit-Maharashtra-after-April-30/articleshow/51812532.cms">shifted outside the state</a>. In these alarming conditions, the government has rationed water to the beer industry and is also keeping an eye on the use of water for sugarcane, known to take up a lot of water. 
 
A few weeks ago, the Maharashta state assembly also spent a considerable time talking about the sugar mills in Latur, one of the worse drought-affected regions, and if it was okay for the mills there to use water for crushing sugarcane. 
 
"Rather than the sugar mills, it is the sugarcane which probably uses more water. The mills nowadays use water in sugarcane for their operations, and sugarcane farmers should shift to drip irrigation. However, we cannot tell farmers not to cultivate sugarcane without making alternative crops such as pulses or soyabean equally remunerative for them," Latur-based Atul Deulgaonkar, who specialises in environmental studies, told ET. 
 
Sugarcane has been blamed for misusing water for a long time now, but now the beer industry in Aurangabad, housing famous brands like Foster's, Carlsberg and Heineken, has also come under the ministry’s prying eyes for its water use. 
 
The water supply to the beer industry has already been cut by 20% instead of the earlier 10% cut. However, a minister from the state's cabinet has told ET that the Maharashtra government had entered into agreements which would reserve water that is used for making beer. 
 
As of now, Aurangabad uses water from the dead pool of Jayakwadi, one of the largest <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/91-Key-reservoirs-in-India-have-less-than-a-quarter-of-their-full-capacities-left/articleshow/51825053.cms">reservoirs in India</a>, and irrigation officials are confident that the reservoir holds enough water for at least the next three months. 
 
On the other hand, locals employed in beer factories are also worried about their jobs in case the factories decide to shut down or shift from there. "People are not migrating from drought-hit villages because there's no water to drink, but because they do not have any work," said a farmer from Marathwada region, who did not wish to be identified. 
 
However, people of Maharashtra are more worried about the availability of drinking water than for industrial purpose, given the acute shortage of water in most regions of the state. 
 
<a href="https://shrigorde.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/dsc_2736-wt.jpg">Image source</a>

Maharashtra faces the tough challenge of using water either for drinking or for industries

New Delhi: Ethanol plants manufacturer Regreen-Excel <keyword id="23123526" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="epc-india-ltd" source="keywords">EPC India Ltd</keyword> has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator <keyword id="35210" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SEBI" source="Orion">Sebi</keyword> to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The company's initial share-sale comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 350 crore and an offer-for-sale (<keyword id="19951016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ofs" source="keywords">OFS</keyword>) of 1.14 crore equity shares by promoters, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds from fresh issue for payment of debt, funding margin money requirements for the purpose of availing bank guarantees; and for general corporate purposes. Regreen-Excel EPCR is a technology-driven EPC company, engaged in designing, manufacturing and supplying ethanol plants. Over the years, the company has built end-to-end capabilities in setting up ethanol plants, across feedstocks such as molasses/ sugarcane syrup, grains or a combination thereof, which it to provide concept to commissioning solutions to their customers. Since the company's inception to July 15, 2024, it has executed 113 projects across various feedstocks, which consist of 53 molasses-based projects, 57 grains-based projects and three <keyword id="23123527" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="multi-feedstock" source="keywords">Multi Feedstock</keyword> projects. As of July 15, 2024, the company had an order book of 64 ongoing projects worth Rs 3,452 crore, which aggregate to over 10,000 kilo litres per day (<keyword id="23123525" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="klpd" source="keywords">KLPD</keyword>) of ethanol capacity. IIFL Securities and ICICI Securities are the book-running lead managers to the issue.

Regreen-Excel files IPO papers with Sebi, aims to raise Rs 350 crore

Chennai (<keyword id="19896558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="keywords">Tamil Nadu</keyword>) [India], March 28 (ANI): Despite the 'Rising Sun' and 'Two leaves', this general election to the Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha revolves around many symbols as some heavy weights are contesting on an independent symbol. Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O Pannerselvam, will contest independently, on an independent symbol from Ramanathapuram constituency. MDMK Headquarters Secretary Durai Vaiko will face the election on an independent symbol from Trichy Constituency. Likewise, <keyword id="21108992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="naam-thamizlar-katchi" source="keywords">Naam Thamizlar Katchi</keyword> (NTK), which failed took get the Sugarcane farmer as its symbol, is now contesting with the <keyword id="20862692" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microphone" source="keywords">Microphone</keyword> symbol in all constituencies of Tamil Nadu. <keyword id="21109299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="naam-thamilar-party" source="keywords">Naam Thamilar Party</keyword> coordinator Seeman says that the Microphone symbol gives them hope. The NTK is contesting outside the principal alliances in the state. "Even though we didn't get our sugarcane famer symbol, we are contesting with hope in the 'Mic' symbol. Many revolutionaries used this equipment to put forth their slogans," NTK leader Seeman said. TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK will contest the elections using the <keyword id="20401835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pressure-cooker" source="keywords">Pressure Cooker</keyword> symbol. The 'Pressure cooker' is the lucky symbol on which he had won the RK Nagar by-poll after the death of former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalitha amidst political drama in Tamil Nadu after former CM Jayalalitha's demise. For the candidates it is a question of proving their worth on an unrecognised symbol. O Pannerselvam who was ousted from the AIADMK is out to prove that he still has the support of AIADMK cadres as he seeks victory in Ramanathapuram constituency. "Symbol is a way of identifying with voters, with their ideology. With regard to DMK we have Rising Sun, it symbolise sun will drive away the darkness of ignorance darkness of oppression. Every political party will ask for symbol which signifies their ideology signifies the DNA of the party so that why symbols are important," says DMK spokesperson Sarvanan. Meanwhile, DMK ally Vaiko's MDMK is looking to bolster its vote share to ensure it gets a recognized symbol for the next elections. The ECI refused to allocate the 'Top' symbol to MDMK, saying the party is contesting only in one constituency. The MDMK was under pressure from alliance big-brother DMK to contest on the DMK Rising Sun symbol but Vaiko's party felt it would be better to strike out on an independent symbol. Vaiko's son Durai Vaiko had broken down in a public rally saying, "We are facing indirect pressure to contest the DMK symbol, but that would affect our party's image. Whatever it takes, he would contest their party's independent symbol." In Tamil Nadu's political history, the symbol for the election is a prestigious issue. When former CM and MDMK founder MG Ramachandran passed away, the AIADMK split. One faction was led by MGR's wife Janaki and the other by Jayalalitha. At that time, AIADMK two leaves symbol was frozen and Jayalalitha contest on an independent symbol of 'Two Pigeons' while Janaki's faction was given the Seval (Rooster) as its symbol. For the voter a multitude of symbols could be confusing, so it is really up to the individual leaders to woo their cadres to ensure that their symbol prevails. (ANI)

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