Leaders of the Bangladesh Chinikal Aakhchashi Federation, an association of sugarcane growers, fear that the unpaid bills may hit sugarcane supplies in the coming season. Several millions farmers supply sugarcane to the BSFIC that runs 15 sugar mills, but are not getting the prices, which discouraged them to cultivate the sweetener, the meeting was told. As a result, the state-run sugar mills failed to pay the price of sugarcane bought from the farmers. In the meeting, the federation leaders demanded an increase in the import duty on sugar to protect the domestic sugar industry. In response to the demand, the minister said the government will provide required policy support to protect the interest of the sugar industry as an agro-based industry.

Source: bd News24 February 13, 2019 20:26 UTC