Govt releases Rs 754.93m subsidy for sugarcane farmers

KATHMANDU: The government has released Rs 754.93 million to provide a subsidy for sugarcane farmers.

Ministry of Finance (MoF) has released the subsidy payment, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) reports will be transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts through district Treasury and Financial Comptroller offices.

Although the Cabinet had earlier decided to provide Rs 35 per quintal to sugarcane farmers, the MoF delayed the disbursement, citing technical issues.

The delay prompted disgruntled sugarcane farmers to stage Kathmandu-centric protests, and the government’s decision to halve the subsidy—previously Rs 70 per quintal—further fuelled their action.

Although MoALD had proposed continuing the same Rs 70 rate this year, the Cabinet opted for Rs 35 per quintal, taking into account the country’s current economic condition and needs.

Meanwhile, representatives of MoALD, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and protesting sugarcane farmers held talks on Tuesday at Singha Durbar.

Lalan Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture, and Lal Kumar Shrestha and Maniratna Aryal, Under-Secretaries of MoALD, represented the government, while Shyam Babu Raya led the farmers in the talks.

It may be noted that last Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, formed a four-member team in a bid to address the farmers’ demands.

By RSS