00:00This is Union Minister reacting to sugar price hike.
00:03Prahlad Joshi says, because of the red rot disease, which was very much unexpected,
00:09and the El Nino, overall agricultural production, which includes sugar,
00:14has come down not only in India, but globally.
00:16We're very concerned about it, which is why we have immediately taken several measures for the same.
00:21India's requirement is somewhere around 280 lakh tons, and this is just as of today.
00:26We have a surplus of more than 20 to 25 lakh tons.
00:30Import measures are being taken as the festival season is approaching,
00:33and there are many major festivals coming up.
00:36We've already taken many measures, including raw sugar imports as a temporary measure.
00:40Opposition has come out to blame ethanol policy, meanwhile, for the entire sugar crisis.
00:46But the Cabinet Ministers have time and again come in to rubbish that very claim.
00:52Let's listen in to what Prahlad Joshi has to say on the matter before we proceed with the discussion.
00:57In India, in the entire world, the overall agricultural production has come down.
01:07So like sugar.
01:10So our expectation was 330 to 340 lakh tons.
01:17All of a sudden, all of a sudden, because of this red rot disease and water scarcity, because of the
01:26less rain,
01:28sewer price has come down.
01:30We are very much concerned about it.
01:33And that's why we have immediately taken many measures.
01:40On that note, we have Ashutosh Mishra joining us on the broadcast with more details on the same.
01:45Ashutosh, how are we looking at these developments?
01:48What Prahlad Joshi now comes in to say, similar sentiments that he's echoed of the government.
01:52The same line that Hardeeb Singh Puri had also taken, that there is no shortage at all.
01:57I beg your pardon.
01:58The Cabinet Ministers have taken time and again that there is no shortage whatsoever.
02:02This is not related to the fuel crisis at all.
02:05And when we speak of fuel crisis, that is the ethanol blend that we are referring to.
02:09But this is to do with environmental factors which have slowed down sugar production across the globe.
02:16So clearly, you know, one needs to back with the data that how much amount of sugarcane is being diverted
02:22for the ethanol production.
02:24However, that may not be the case as far as India is concerned.
02:28But ethanol production and diversion of sugarcane is perhaps one of the key factors in one of the largest sugar
02:34production,
02:35which is Brazil, which reduces around 25% of the total sugarcane across the globe.
02:39And there is an amino factor, so southern part and central part of Brazil where the sugarcane production has been
02:46affected.
02:46And so is the case in India because of the amino factor.
02:49There has been rain deficit of more than 10%.
02:51So clearly, the largest state like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and so on, all these states where the sugarcane production is
02:57affected.
02:58So government clearly jumping.
02:59However, the crisis is severe.
03:01And as we are heading towards the festive season, there is, of course, a huge stock of raw sugar is
03:06being imported.
03:07The government has given clearance for that.
03:09And that's very ironic why the government is on the top.
03:11Because India, being one of the second largest exporter of sugar at the moment, after a decade, has been forced
03:18to import sugar.
03:19So that's perhaps irony and why the government is being questioned.
03:22That whether or whether you're not prepared for it, because the amino factor was predicted since month of June.
03:28So why the preparedness?
03:29The government says we have enough stock.
03:30But when we're heading towards the festive season, you know, the next couple of weeks from now, clearly there will
03:36be more and more demand of sugar.
03:38And it is not only with the retail or wholesale, confectionery and several other industries that would require sugar.
03:44So it is now a tough time for the government.
03:46They have even imposed the stock limited for the confectionery and larger stock sugar entrepreneurship.
03:54And at the same time, import has been ordered.
03:56But moreover, the amino factor seems to be one of the key factors, including the sugarcane production countries like Thailand,
04:03India, Pakistan, Mauritius, Brazil and such countries.
04:07So clearly the weather is also playing out.
04:09And we'll have to see how the government is going to tackle with this crisis.
04:13Very true, Ashutosh.
04:14Very pertinent points that you've raised here.
04:16And viewers, on that note, as we say that the opposition has been attacking the government with regards to these
04:21new developments,
04:22take a look as to what one of their MPs had to say on the matter.
04:25Thank you very much.
04:55Thank you very much.
