Cooprative mills seek dual pricing for sugar

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) on Friday asked for dual pricing for sugar to ensure its availability at cheaper prices for household consumption and ensure fair remuneration to cane growers.

The trade body pointed to dual pricing in the supply of electricity and kerosene to industrial and household consumers to butress its stand on dual pricing for sugar.

"If dual pricing formula is accepted, it will be a win-win situation for all three stakeholders -- farmers will get remunerative price, mills will have robust balance sheets and the common man will get sugar at reduced prices," NFCSF Managing Director Prakash Naiknavre told IANS.

NFCSF, which represent 262 cooperative sugar mills in the country, said the factory rate for household consumption can be Rs 30 per kg while the same for industries can be between Rs 50-60.

"As per the data, only 30 per cent of sugar is used for household consumption while 70 per cent is used by companies manufacturing soft drinks, chocolate, and ice cream," Naiknavre said.

He said the issue will be taken up with the government at an appropriate level.

The NFCSF said there was no decrease in prices of soft drinks and chocolate when the wholesale prices of sugar fell from Rs 37-39 to Rs 19 last year.

As per the NFCS, there is anti-sugar wave across the world, with the commodity blamed for obesity, diabetes, and heart ailments. Major beverage manufacturer like Pepsi and Coca-Cola have started replacing sugar with organic sweeteners like stevia.

So, it said, dual pricing was necessary to save the domestic sugar industry.

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