Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved creation of a buffer stock of 40 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of sugar. This buffer stock would be created for one year starting from 1 August 2019 to 31 July 2020. The decision of approving a buffer stock is to maintain demand-supply balance and to stabilise sugar prices.
Key Highlights
Estimated Cost & Review: Government will spend an estimated Rs.1674 crore for creation of a buffer stock of 40 LMT. However, based on market price and availability of sugar, this may be reviewed by Department of Food and Public Distribution under Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution any time for withdrawal or modification.
Reimbursement: provided under scheme would be met on a quarterly basis (3 months) to sugar mills. It would be directly credited into farmers’ account on behalf of mills against cane price dues. In case of any subsequent balance, it would be credited to mill’s account.
Benefits: The decisions will lead to:
- Reduction in sugar inventories
- Improvement in liquidity positions of sugar mills
- Stabilization in sugar prices by alleviating of price sentiments in domestic sugar market. This will further facilitate timely clearance of cane price dues of farmers.
- Benefits for sugar mills in all sugarcane producing States, by way of clearing sugarcane price dues of sugar mills.