Centre sets up panel to study problems of sugarcane farmers

Representational file image. | Photo Credit: R. Vengadesh

The Union Government, on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), constituted a four-member panel headed by former member of NITI Aayog Ramesh Chand to examine issues raised by sugarcane farmers and recommend “appropriate measures” for addressing their concerns. Representatives of sugarcane farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra had met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi demanding that the government must increase remunerative returns to sugarcane farmers. 

A release issued by the Union Food Ministry said the panel will examine the demand taking into account cultivation costs and other relevant factors. “It will also examine the demand for revision of the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar in the context of sugar production costs, market realisations, and the financial viability of sugar mills,” it said.