Government allocates grant amount for sugarcane farmers

Kathmandu, Sept 4: The government has allocated approximately Rs 750 million as a grant to sugarcane farmers as part of its incentive programme.

This amount corresponds to the payment for around 20,160,000 quintals of sugarcane supplied by farmers from 13 districts to sugar mills. 

According to Mahananda Joshi, Information Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, sugar mills pay farmers Rs 585 per quintal, while the government provides an additional Rs 30 per quintal as a grant.

Joshi added that the grant amount will be deposited directly into the farmers' bank accounts through the respective District Treasury Controller Offices.

Previously, the grant was Rs 70 per quintal. However, due to budget constraints, the government halved the amount, which technically caused delays in budget allocation and raised concerns among farmers regarding late payments, it is said

Commercial sugarcane farming majorly takes place in Sunsari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Rautahat, Bara, and Nawalparasi districts. (RSS)