The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to ratify the methodology adopted to recalculate the incentive rate for bi-monthly periods of April-May, 2014, June-July, 2014 and August-September, 2014.

In sugar year 2013-14, sugar industry had been saddled with surplus stocks on account of surplus production which has consistently exceeded domestic consumption over the past several years.

Due to subdued prices of sugar, both in the domestic and international markets, the industry faced a liquidity crisis on account of surplus stocks. This further resulted in mounting up of cane arrears causing distress among cane farmers.

As a result of the policy initiative, about 7.5 lakh MT of raw sugar was exported which resulted in significant improvements in liquidity of the sugar industry and clearing up of sugarcane arrears benefitting the cane farmers.

The incentive rate for bi-monthly periods of April-May, 2014, June-July, 2014 and August-September, 2014 have been finalised respectively at Rs 2,277, Rs, 3,300 & Rs 3,371 per MT. Total financial help is expected to be around Rs 2 billion.