Ramadoss urges Union, T.N. governments to fix FRP for sugarcane at ₹5,000 per tonne

S. Ramadoss. File
| Photo Credit: M. Samraj

Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss on Thursday (May 1, 2025) urged the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to ensure that farmers receive ₹5,000 per tonne as Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane.

In a statement, he said the Union government has announced that during the upcoming sugar season, the FRP for sugarcane with a sugar recovery rate of 10.25% will be ₹3,550 per tonne. For sugarcane cultivated in Tamil Nadu, with a sugar recovery rate of 9.5% or less, the FRP is fixed at ₹3,290 per tonne. In 2024-25, the FRP for sugarcane with a 9.5% sugar recovery rate was ₹3,151 per tonne. Now, the price has been increased by only ₹139 — a mere 4.41%. With the cost of cultivation of sugarcane having increased, this hike is unjust, he said.

Dr. Ramadoss also pointed out that farmers’ organisations in Tamil Nadu have been demanding that ₹5,500 per tonne be provided as FRP for sugarcane. When the Centre sets a low FRP, State governments would provide incentives to offset the loss for farmers. Last year, the Tamil Nadu government added an incentive of ₹349, resulting in a final procurement price of ₹3,500 per tonne, he said.

He urged the Tamil Nadu government to engage in talks with the Centre to fix the procurement price for sugarcane at ₹4,000 per tonne. Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government should provide an incentive of ₹1,000 per tonne so that farmers receive a total of ₹5,000 per tonne, he added.